Griz, Eagles play to 1-1 draw

Thursday, October 2

Cheney, Wash.

4 PM (MT)

Montana

7-3-2, 1-1-1BSC

Eastern Washington

5-4-4, 1-1-1BSC

Montana

Eastern Washington

Photos: Eastern Washington Athletics

10/2/2025 7:09:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

It was a typical Montana-Eastern Washington match-up on Thursday afternoon as the Grizzlies and Eagles played to a 1-1 draw at EWU Soccer Field in Cheney.

Eastern Washington scored in the eighth minute, Montana answered in 40th, with six yellow cards – five of them on the Eagles – being issued in a testy second half.

It was the fourth consecutive draw between the two teams. "It was a great, physical, intense match-up," said Griz coach Chris Citowicki. "It's a draw and keeps us moving forward."

It was another concerning start for Montana (7-3-2, 1-1-1 BSC), which gave up a goal 7:05 into the match, a header off a corner kick.

The Grizzlies have allowed nine goals this season. Eight of them have come in the first half, five of those eight have come in the opening 10 minutes of a match.

"It was another start that was a little slow," said Citowicki. "We've got some deep thinking to do because if you think you can start slow against anybody in the Big Sky, you can't.

"What we need to discover is, where is the team that played Washington State, that played Gonzaga, is brave in all its decision-making? And why does that team disappear when we're in Big Sky play?

"Proud of the response but the response came after 30 minutes of not playing soccer to start with. We've got to be better."

Thankfully Montana has Chloe Seelhoff, game-changer.

With the Grizzlies needing a spark, the senior provided it, never giving up on a ball despite being shielded by an Eagle defender at the top of the 18-yard box.

Fifteen yards in front of goal, Seelhoff somehow stole the ball, tapped it to herself in space and left-footed it past the Eastern Washington goalkeeper.

It was Seelhoff's seventh goal of the season, tying her for the Big Sky lead.

"A classic Chloe goal," said Citowicki. "We needed someone to score and step up and be a leader and save the day. That's why you have people like Ditta and Chloe and Ricky.

"Ally Henrikson in the back was just superb with the way she was defending. Absolutely amazing."

Montana out-shot Eastern Washington 16-9 and generated a season-high 10 corner kicks, but the Grizzlies never could find the game-winner.

"For maybe 60 minutes, I thought we played very, very well," said Citowicki. "And then for 30 minutes, I don't know where we were today."

Ashlyn Dvorak made four saves for Montana, which plays at Idaho at 2 p.m. (MT) on Sunday. The Vandals (4-4-5, 1-1-1 BSC) scored two second-half goals to win 2-0 at Sacramento State on Thursday.