Griz win, clinch title, make history

Thursday, October 23

Hillsboro, Ore.

2 PM (MT)

Montana

11-3-3, 5-1-2BSC

Portland State

3-8-4, 2-3-2BSC

Montana

Portland State

Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana

10/23/2025 5:49:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

Even through all that, the Montana soccer program ended up on top.

"This is probably the most emotional one," said coach Chris Citowicki on Thursday afternoon, after Montana won its 11th Big Sky Conference championship with a 1-0 victory over Portland State at Hillsboro (Ore.) Stadium. "It's one of the most special ones."

Citowicki's program had won seven regular-season or tournament titles through his first seven seasons leading the Grizzlies. No. 8 looked like a long shot as players were lost seemingly on a weekly basis to season-ending injuries this fall.

But after dropping its league opener at Northern Arizona, Montana did what Montana does best. The Grizzlies took the personnel they had available and locked in, closing out the regular season on a seven-match unbeaten streak, allowing a single goal in those matches.

The end result: Montana becomes the first program in Big Sky Conference history to win three consecutive outright championships, this year's team adding a 5-1-2 league record to the 13-0-3 record of the 2023 and '24 title teams.

"So much pain this year, so much suffering," said Citowicki. "To still come out on top of it in such a difficult year, having to piece it all together, this team just continues coming back. Just special, very, very special."

It was the match Citowicki was expecting, Montana having allowed only three goals in Big Sky play, Portland State next on the list with just four given up. From the opening minutes, it felt like the race was to one, that the first goal, whenever it came, just might win it.

And that's how it played out, Maddie Ditta's penalty kick in the 62nd minute giving the decision to Montana.

The penalty kick was awarded after Eliza Bentler was sandwiched by two defenders and taken down in the box in one of the rare moments that either team was able to get the ball into dangerous territory.

"We told them, if someone can get into the 18-yard box, their defenders will dive in. All you have to do is move the ball, get taken out and we'll get a penalty kick," said Citowicki.

"Eliza was always going to be the kid who, if she got isolated 1-v-1 and tried to beat someone, they were going to take her down. It scripted itself out absolutely perfectly."

From there, it had to be Ditta, didn't it? Who else would you rather have taking that shot in that moment with that kind of pressure? She got the ball set, got herself set, took a step to her left and sent a screamer across the turf and inside the left post.

Portland State goalkeeper Natalie Cunningham had no chance. Ditta's sixth goal of the season, the 14th of her career left Montana 28 minutes from a championship.

"She is the exact kid who was going to do it," Citowicki said of his senior. "Ditta was immediately telling everyone it was hers. When you see that confidence radiating out of someone, you just say, yep, go ahead. You just made the decision for me.

"What a beautiful goal. The composure you need in that setting, just ridiculous. That's what she's been doing forever and continues doing for us now."

Montana (11-3-3, 5-1-2 BSC) stymied Portland State (3-8-4, 2-3-2 BSC) from the opening minute, holding the Vikings to nine shots, only two of which were on goal. Even with the home side pressing forward in the final 25 minutes, the Grizzlies handled it with the look of a champion.

"The messaging beforehand was, you've got to focus on the process of how we do business," said Citowicki. "If at any point your mind is, oh, I can't wait for us to score and celebrate afterwards, no, that's not going to work. It was a very mature and professional performance from us.

"We knew exactly how to defend in this game, how to keep them off the board. With the way they defend, it was going to be hard to break them down and find the moment but we found it."

Montana, which clinched hosting rights to the 2026 Big Sky Conference tournament with the victory, now turns its attention to November and this year's postseason.

The Grizzlies won't play again until Friday, Nov. 7, in that day's second semifinal at 2 p.m. at South Campus Stadium in Missoula. Montana will be trying to advance to the tournament championship match for the first time since 2021.