Big Sky champions add nine for ‘26
11/13/2025 6:20:00 PM | Soccer
The Montana soccer program, a double Big Sky Conference champion this fall, sweeping the regular-season and tournament titles, signed nine prep players to scholarship contracts this week.
Because winning attracts winners.
"They want to be a part of it," said eighth-year coach Chris Citowicki, whose team plays Washington on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship and whose program has won nine regular-season and tournament Big Sky titles over the past eight seasons.
"That's a big part of the message when we recruit them. You're not just coming here to play on this team. You're coming here to help us win titles. If you already know how that feels, then this is the place for you. They're coming here to help this thing continue."
Three newcomers will arrive from Washington, two from Oregon, one each from California, Idaho, Nevada and Utah. "They are similar to recent groups who have come in, meaning they are extremely technical," said Citowicki.
"You've seen over the years how the Griz style has evolved, where it's become playing a little bit more through the middle, a little more intricate. That's exactly what we'll get out of this group but there is a mix of athleticism that's pretty exciting and entertaining, too."
The Californian, defender Addison Hansen (Anaheim Hills, Calif./Rosary Academy), will arrive from the farthest away, but she has the closest connection to the program.
After Betsy Duerksen, who founded the Montana soccer program in 1994 and led it through the 2003 season, moved to Southern California with her family nearly two decades ago, she eventually found her way back into soccer, coaching club at the youngest of youth levels.
Hansen was one of the players who heard her club coach tell of this magical place far, far away, nirvana for a girl willing to take a chance. She never forgot it.
"In 2024, she sends me an email saying she's interested in coming to camp and just a heads up, my old coach always talked so highly of Montana and Missoula. Ever since then, I've been a fan of the Griz," said Citowicki.
"Addie is a very special defender, a very high-level player. I didn't know if it would work out but it did because her heart was already here. Just an amazing story."
That connection with the program helped Montana land defender Mackenzie Hildebrand (Boise, Idaho/Timberline HS), who was formerly teammates with Griz sophomores Emma Widmor and Ashlyn Sandow, both of whom have been key pieces on this year's championship team.
"Same club, same hometown. She's been following us ever since Sandow and Widmor committed," said Citowicki. "As soon as she came on a visit, she wanted to commit to this place as soon as possible.
"The way she goes forward out of the outside back position, the way she can cross the ball and shoot, it's what you've seen from Griz outside backs historically, so it's a perfect fit for us."
Forward Raina Tifft (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue HS) is from the same city in Washington that's hosting the Grizzlies this week as they prepare to face the Huskies on Friday night.
"I go to a camp and when I finish running my training session, I go over to watch some games and there is this lightning bolt across the field running down the line," Citowicki says. "Okay, that can't be real. Then she gets the ball again and, boom, she explodes down the line again. Okay, that's pretty special.
"She ends up getting hurt and falls off the radar a little bit, but I made sure we stayed in contact. As soon as she got healthy, she started tearing it up again, and there was only one place she wanted to go. She is Skyleigh Thompson quick and has exceptional talent. She will blow this place up."
Montana also adds forward Elizabeth Wiggs (Maple Valley, Wash./Tahoma HS).
"So much individual flair. I went to a Pac-Northwest camp and there was this loose ball and she comes sliding through a teammate just to get to the ball. She gets the ball and tries to dribble through the whole team," said Citowicki.
"She's doing these crazy moves, step-overs, you're like, what is up with this kid? So much self-confidence and self-expression. That's where we connected. We clicked immediately. She said, I've been waiting for someone to see that in me and who believes I can provide that to a team."
Also arriving from Washington will be defender Kate Spangler (Renton, Wash./Tahoma HS).
"Extremely mature, extremely composed, just a natural leader who I think is going to be quite special in this program," said Citowicki. "She just has it. You watch her play and there is a swagger to it, a self-confidence. It's really exciting to think of how good she could become."
Spangler will be an early enrollee, arriving in January to get a jump-start on her collegiate career, as will Grace Morton (San Jose, Calif.), who signed a year ago and deferred her enrollment, plus midfielder Calli Holje (North Layton, Utah/Layton HS).
"I've always wanted to get into the Utah market. There is a lot of talent there and Calli's club team plays at a very high level," said Citowicki. "She is the type of midfielder we've had here, the Maddie Dittas, the Sydney Hausteins.
"We were very picky about how many midfielders we were going to bring in with this class. If they come in, they'd better have a bright future. She is only getting better every single month that goes by. She is peaking and she hasn't even gotten here yet."
The other incoming midfielder is Sofia Ballesteros (Beaverton Ore./Westview HS).
"When you look at the attacking midfield role, the way we've designed it, you have Lydia (Robertson), super crafty with the ball, Caylee (Kerr), a runner with great footwork. The vision has to be there plus the ability to see things ahead of time," said Citowicki.
"Sofia has that in absolute abundance. Then you have to be a feisty competitor too, because you have to take likely their best player, their holding midfielder, out of the game. She has that ability. She can learn from the players ahead of her and develop into a really special player."
The other newcomers are both defenders, Josephine Frischknecht (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS) and Cate Gusick (Henderson, Nev./Coronado HS).
Frischknecht was a high school teammate of Montana outside back Lucie Rokos. "She's been a fan of ours ever since Lucie got here, plus we recruit heavily out of her club," said Citowicki. "You watch her play and you think, that's Ava (Samuelson), that's Taylor (Hansen).
"She is such a technical and well-put-together outside back. She can solve problems not just through running but through her distribution and ability to keep the ball. She is a great athlete who is also very gifted with the ball, too. She is almost the total package that way."
Gusick is a center back joining a program known for its stellar play at the position, a big reason Montana has allowed only 30 goals the last three seasons over 57 matches.
"The biggest quality she brings, besides her presence as a tall, powerful, strong center back, is her ability with both feet," said Citowicki.
"Much like Kena (Smith), her range of distribution, besides being able to play short, is also very long. That's something we were looking for when you look at the recruits we're bringing in. She brings us that quality."
Montana faces Washington at 8 p.m. (MT) on Friday at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle. The match will stream on ESPN+.
Because winning attracts winners.
"They want to be a part of it," said eighth-year coach Chris Citowicki, whose team plays Washington on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship and whose program has won nine regular-season and tournament Big Sky titles over the past eight seasons.
"That's a big part of the message when we recruit them. You're not just coming here to play on this team. You're coming here to help us win titles. If you already know how that feels, then this is the place for you. They're coming here to help this thing continue."
Three newcomers will arrive from Washington, two from Oregon, one each from California, Idaho, Nevada and Utah. "They are similar to recent groups who have come in, meaning they are extremely technical," said Citowicki.
"You've seen over the years how the Griz style has evolved, where it's become playing a little bit more through the middle, a little more intricate. That's exactly what we'll get out of this group but there is a mix of athleticism that's pretty exciting and entertaining, too."
The Californian, defender Addison Hansen (Anaheim Hills, Calif./Rosary Academy), will arrive from the farthest away, but she has the closest connection to the program.
After Betsy Duerksen, who founded the Montana soccer program in 1994 and led it through the 2003 season, moved to Southern California with her family nearly two decades ago, she eventually found her way back into soccer, coaching club at the youngest of youth levels.
Hansen was one of the players who heard her club coach tell of this magical place far, far away, nirvana for a girl willing to take a chance. She never forgot it.
"In 2024, she sends me an email saying she's interested in coming to camp and just a heads up, my old coach always talked so highly of Montana and Missoula. Ever since then, I've been a fan of the Griz," said Citowicki.
"Addie is a very special defender, a very high-level player. I didn't know if it would work out but it did because her heart was already here. Just an amazing story."
That connection with the program helped Montana land defender Mackenzie Hildebrand (Boise, Idaho/Timberline HS), who was formerly teammates with Griz sophomores Emma Widmor and Ashlyn Sandow, both of whom have been key pieces on this year's championship team.
"Same club, same hometown. She's been following us ever since Sandow and Widmor committed," said Citowicki. "As soon as she came on a visit, she wanted to commit to this place as soon as possible.
"The way she goes forward out of the outside back position, the way she can cross the ball and shoot, it's what you've seen from Griz outside backs historically, so it's a perfect fit for us."
Forward Raina Tifft (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue HS) is from the same city in Washington that's hosting the Grizzlies this week as they prepare to face the Huskies on Friday night.
"I go to a camp and when I finish running my training session, I go over to watch some games and there is this lightning bolt across the field running down the line," Citowicki says. "Okay, that can't be real. Then she gets the ball again and, boom, she explodes down the line again. Okay, that's pretty special.
"She ends up getting hurt and falls off the radar a little bit, but I made sure we stayed in contact. As soon as she got healthy, she started tearing it up again, and there was only one place she wanted to go. She is Skyleigh Thompson quick and has exceptional talent. She will blow this place up."
Montana also adds forward Elizabeth Wiggs (Maple Valley, Wash./Tahoma HS).
"So much individual flair. I went to a Pac-Northwest camp and there was this loose ball and she comes sliding through a teammate just to get to the ball. She gets the ball and tries to dribble through the whole team," said Citowicki.
"She's doing these crazy moves, step-overs, you're like, what is up with this kid? So much self-confidence and self-expression. That's where we connected. We clicked immediately. She said, I've been waiting for someone to see that in me and who believes I can provide that to a team."
Also arriving from Washington will be defender Kate Spangler (Renton, Wash./Tahoma HS).
"Extremely mature, extremely composed, just a natural leader who I think is going to be quite special in this program," said Citowicki. "She just has it. You watch her play and there is a swagger to it, a self-confidence. It's really exciting to think of how good she could become."
Spangler will be an early enrollee, arriving in January to get a jump-start on her collegiate career, as will Grace Morton (San Jose, Calif.), who signed a year ago and deferred her enrollment, plus midfielder Calli Holje (North Layton, Utah/Layton HS).
"I've always wanted to get into the Utah market. There is a lot of talent there and Calli's club team plays at a very high level," said Citowicki. "She is the type of midfielder we've had here, the Maddie Dittas, the Sydney Hausteins.
"We were very picky about how many midfielders we were going to bring in with this class. If they come in, they'd better have a bright future. She is only getting better every single month that goes by. She is peaking and she hasn't even gotten here yet."
The other incoming midfielder is Sofia Ballesteros (Beaverton Ore./Westview HS).
"When you look at the attacking midfield role, the way we've designed it, you have Lydia (Robertson), super crafty with the ball, Caylee (Kerr), a runner with great footwork. The vision has to be there plus the ability to see things ahead of time," said Citowicki.
"Sofia has that in absolute abundance. Then you have to be a feisty competitor too, because you have to take likely their best player, their holding midfielder, out of the game. She has that ability. She can learn from the players ahead of her and develop into a really special player."
The other newcomers are both defenders, Josephine Frischknecht (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS) and Cate Gusick (Henderson, Nev./Coronado HS).
Frischknecht was a high school teammate of Montana outside back Lucie Rokos. "She's been a fan of ours ever since Lucie got here, plus we recruit heavily out of her club," said Citowicki. "You watch her play and you think, that's Ava (Samuelson), that's Taylor (Hansen).
"She is such a technical and well-put-together outside back. She can solve problems not just through running but through her distribution and ability to keep the ball. She is a great athlete who is also very gifted with the ball, too. She is almost the total package that way."
Gusick is a center back joining a program known for its stellar play at the position, a big reason Montana has allowed only 30 goals the last three seasons over 57 matches.
"The biggest quality she brings, besides her presence as a tall, powerful, strong center back, is her ability with both feet," said Citowicki.
"Much like Kena (Smith), her range of distribution, besides being able to play short, is also very long. That's something we were looking for when you look at the recruits we're bringing in. She brings us that quality."
Montana faces Washington at 8 p.m. (MT) on Friday at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle. The match will stream on ESPN+.
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