Griz build fall roster to 22 with six more additions

The Montana soccer program, which lost most of its roster from last season, either through graduation or transfer after a December coaching change, is slowly remaking itself under first-year coach Stuart Gore.

The Grizzlies recently signed six more players to scholarship contracts, bringing the roster to 22 and giving Gore and associate head coach J. Landham up to six more available spots to fill, should they choose, when the spring transfer portal opens on May 1. The NCAA squad-size limit is 28.

The most recent group to sign on to play for the program that swept the Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles in the fall is made up of one transfer and five freshmen, bringing the team's freshman total to 10.

Of the current roster of 22, two more are redshirt freshmen, six are sophomores in eligibility. Only four are upperclassmen.

"We're going to be young but that means we'll have longevity through that," said Gore, who has seen the impact of the transfer portal on recruiting over the last several years, with high school players getting bypassed as programs look first to proven transfers to build their team.

That left a lot of talented prep players available even after November's early signing period. "These are products of the transfer portal and we got lucky with all of them," said Gore. "I feel good about the freshman class. They see the roster and know they'll have an opportunity. They'll be hungry."

Landham got the rebuild process rolling in December and January, before Gore had been hired, when he picked up three transfers: Lexi Rabold (Middle Tennessee), Grace Olson (St. Cloud State) and Shiana Samarasinghe (UC San Diego).

Gore added a fourth transfer recently with the addition of Elliasen Lewis, a forward from Boise who played two seasons at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo. Lewis, who will be a junior in the fall, scored 24 goals over two seasons for the Trappers and was named a third-team All-American as a freshman.

"Elli is a high-octane forward whose pace and directness make her a difficult match-up for any back line," said Gore. "Her ability to transition quickly from defense to attack provides her team with a reliable outlet and a consistent goal-scoring threat."

Montana's five other newcomers all will be true freshmen in the fall: Stella Handlin (Issaquah, Wash./Issaquah HS), Lane Lee (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS), Finley McKnight (Frisco, Texas/Wakeland HS), Grace Russell (Seattle, Wash./Eastside Catholic HS) and Lorelei Rustay (San Mateo, Calif./Aragon HS).

Handlin, McKnight and Russell are all midfielders, while Lee can play midfield or forward. Rustay is a goalkeeper.

"Lorelei is a commanding and reliable anchor for her team's defense," said Gore. "Her elite shot-stopping ability and tactical vision allow her to dictate the game from the back.

"She is the type of player who elevates the performance of those in front of her by organizing the defensive line and delivering high-quality distribution while maintaining the individual brilliance to produce game-defining saves in the most crucial moments."

Lee was high school teammates with Josephine Frischknecht, who signed with Montana in November. Both come out of the same Jesuit High program that sent Lucie Rokos, who will be a redshirt junior in the fall, to the Grizzlies.

"Lane is an explosive presence on the field, someone who is capable of changing the course of a match with a single individual run or a well-timed pass," said Gore. "Her combination of raw athletic ability and refined technical skill makes her a constant threat in the final third."

McKnight becomes Montana's third-ever player from the state of Texas, joining Taylor Rhodes (Fort Worth) and Emme Fernandez (Van Alstyne).

"Finley is a reliable engine for her team's offense," said Gore. "Her high soccer IQ and technical consistency allow her to dictate the tempo of a match.

"She is the type of player who makes those around her better by creating space and providing high-quality service while still maintaining the individual quality of finish plays herself."

Handlin and Russell are both from the greater Seattle area, a location that's been fertile recruiting ground for Montana since the program began in the mid-90s.

"Stella is a tactical connector who provides stability and creativity in the midfield," said Gore. "Her combination of technical proficiency and defensive work rate makes her a versatile asset capable of both anchoring the midfield and initiating offensive drives.

"Grace is a glue player who connects different phases of the game. Her work rate is a standout feature, as she rarely gives up on a play and consistently pursues ground balls with aggression. This combination of technical skill and athletic hustle makes her a valuable asset in maintaining team momentum."

With only four upperclassmen among the 22 on the current roster, Gore will look to the transfer portal next month to add additional veteran experience.

"Maybe four more right down the middle of the field: goalkeeper, center back, attacking mid and a center forward," he said. "If we can get a few more older players, we can build around them with this young talent."

University of Montana Athletics

Griz build fall roster to 22 with six more additions

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Players Mentioned

Josephine Frischknecht

Stella Handlin

Lane Lee

Elliasen Lewis

Finley McKnight

Grace Olson

Lexi Rabold

Lucie Rokos

Grace Russell

Lorelei Rustay

Shiana Samarasinghe

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