Montana tops Weber State, moves atop Big Sky

Thursday, October 9

Missoula, Mont.

3 PM

Montana

8-3-3, 2-1-2BSC

Weber State

8-6-0, 2-2-0BSC

Weber State

Montana

Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana

10/9/2025 8:02:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to four matches with a 4-0 shutout of Weber State on Thursday afternoon at South Campus Stadium in Missoula.

It was the Grizzlies' largest margin of victory over the Wildcats since 1997 and moved Montana (8-3-3, 2-1-2 BSC) atop the Big Sky Conference standings.

It's a familiar spot for coach Chris Citowicki's program, which won the 2023 and '24 Big Sky regular-season titles, but it's how his eighth Montana team is doing it that has him in near disbelief.

On the bench Thursday and unable to play due to injuries were eight Grizzlies, more than a quarter of the roster, six of whom have been regular starters for Montana in their careers.

And yet his team has not only persevered, it's rolled on.

"It's just amazing. I can't really put into words how deep we have to go into the bench right now and how much care and support and effort is put in by every single person on this team to put in a performance like that. That's not easy to do," he said.

"It's so easy after so many injuries to break psychologically as a team and just throw the towel in, but this group just keeps moving forward. Really, really impressed."

It was the bench that shook the game up late in the first half of what had been a tight, scoreless draw.

Ashlyn Sandow (bench) played a pass up the left sideline to Eliza Bentler (bench), who got the ball to Caylee Kerr (bench), who got the ball to Maycen Slater (bench), who outside-footed it inside the right post for her second goal of the season.

Montana led 1-0 at the half, then blitzed the Wildcats (8-6-0, 2-2-0 BSC) in the second half, with Reagan Brisendine scoring twice, less than three minutes apart, then Slater scoring again in the 80th minute.

Two of Montana's goals on Thursday were scored inside the six-yard box, all four scored from a total of just 32 yards out. Montana put five shots on goal and scored on four of them, with Weber State goalkeeper Lauren Butorac making just one save.

The Wildcats finished with 60 percent of the possession and out-shot the Grizzlies 15-12, but Montana won 4-0.

"Look at the quality of chances that we produced," said Citowicki, whose team has scored three or more goals in four home matches this season. "Other games, we've put shots on goal but it's from 30 yards out. These are chances that are being created that put the ball in high-probability areas.

"The ball is right there in front of goal, so we put ourselves in good spots. The closer we can get to goal, the easier it is to score."

Weber State went 3-22-10 the last two seasons but has enjoyed a resurgence under first-year coach Kyle Christensen. The Wildcats entered the match with more wins than the Grizzlies and a better RPI.

That, too, added to the surprise of if not the outcome then at least the margin of victory.

"I'm just amazed the ball went in as many times as it did because Weber has been on fire this year," said Citowicki. "They've been one of my favorite programs to watch in the Big Sky. They are so dangerous. I know there is a good chance we'll meet them again. I'd be excited for that."

The Wildcats were dangerous but in exactly the way the Grizzlies expected and prepared for, with balls being played wide, then into the box, which happens to be a strength of Montana goalkeeper Ashlyn Dvorak, the fearless one who welcomes any ball played into the air in her direction.

"We practiced a lot of crosses and cutback crosses because we knew this was a team that relies heavily on getting players in the box and getting those one-touch finishes," Dvorak said. "We practiced a lot on box-defending, with the back line and midfield working together. It really showed in our performance."

Whereas Montana's goals came from in close, Weber's shots largely came from distance, with only three of its 15 shots on goal. Dvorak saved all three for her 20th career shutout, the third-most in program history.

"We were man-marking really well in the box. I was able to get to the ones that were in my range and my team was backing me up behind that, making sure to cover me in case a ball slipped past me," she said.

Brisendine scored her third and fourth goals of the season to break the game open 15 minutes into the second half.

Her first goal, the opportunity gift-wrapped after a cross from Chloe Seelhoff was headed in front of goal by Taija Anderson, came with no one between Brisendine and the net except for Butorac. If she thought Brisendine might freak out in the moment, she doesn't know Brisendine, who only knows composure.

Less than three minutes later, she made it 3-0 when she out-raced Weber State's defenders to a ball played forward by Bentler and beat Butorac again in a 1-v-1 situation, not shooting from 15 yards out as much as she tapped it low and right past the flummoxed goalkeeper.

Slater made it 4-0 in the 80th minute when Seelhoff played Bentler up the right side. Her soft-touch cross made its way to Slater, who ripped in her third goal of the season.

It was a two-goal match for Slater and Brisendine, both underclassmen, and a two-assist day for Seelhoff, who is performing at an elite level, now setting teammates up when she isn't scoring herself.

She needs one more goal to have the most since Erin Craig in 2011. She needs one more assist to have the most since India Watne, also from 2011. Her talent is generational.

Because even a team that has to go deeper into its bench than expected can enjoy the stability that comes with superstars, and there are still plenty on the roster, players not just with talent but the ability to turn X's and O's into on-field performance.

"We talked before the game, this is one that isn't going to necessarily be won with effort," said Citowicki. "It's going to be won with tactics. You're just going to have to be smarter in certain areas.

"If you execute the game plan to a T, you will stop them from scoring and you'll create lots of chances for yourselves."

Montana is one point up on Idaho State (5-5-3, 2-1-1 BSC) in the standings and will host the second-place Bengals at noon on Sunday. ISU, with only one loss in its last five matches, won 3-0 at home over Sacramento State on Thursday afternoon.