@fullname - @sport - University of Montana Athletics

Montana played to a 1-1 tie against Eastern Washington at South Campus Stadium on October 13th, 2024.

Photo by: John Sieber via UM Athletics

Montana vs. Oregon State; Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024; South Campus Stadium; Missoula, Mont.

Photo by: John Sieber via UM Athletics

Montana beat Montana State-Billings 2-0 on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 at South Campus Stadium in Missoula, Mont.

Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke/ University of Mo

Photo by: John Sieber via UM Athletics

Scenes from the match between the University of Montana and MSU Billings at South Campus Stadium on Aug. 24, 2023.

Photo by: Tanner Ecker/UM Photo

Photo by: Shanna Madison/UM Athletics

Photo by: Derek Johnson

Photo by: Shanna Madison/UM Athletics

Photo by: Derek Johnson

Ava Samuelson

Year:
Junior
Position:
D
Hometown:
Louisville, Colo.
Previous School:
Monarch HS

2024 (senior season):

College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
Academic All-Big Sky Conference
First-team All-Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference All-Tournament Team
Played in all 19 matches, made 19 starts
Averaged more than 75 minutes per match
Tied for seventh on team with four points
Finished season with one goal, two assists
Ended career with 14 assists, tied for seventh in program history
Scored equalizer in 3-3 draw at Wyoming as Montana came back from a 3-1 deficit
Assisted on Jen Estes’s goal that started the rally against the Cowgirls
Also assisted on Carly Whalen’s game-winner in 4-0 home win over North Dakota
Took team-high 48 shots, put 23 on goal
Five times took five shots, four times put three shots on goal
Part of defensive unit that allowed 10 goals, posted a program-record 14 shutouts
Twice played all 90 minutes
Played 105 minutes in Big Sky semifinal match against Sacramento State

2023 (junior season):

College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
Academic All-Big Sky Conference
Third-team United Soccer Coaches All-West Region
First-team All-Big Sky Conference
Played in all 19 matches, made 15 starts
Ranked sixth on team in points (8) at outside back
Scored one goal, totaled six assists
Tied for second in the Big Sky in assists
Scored lone goal in 4-0 win over Utah Tech in Spokane
Four of six assists came from header goals by Delaney Lou Schorr
Assisted on Kathleen Aitchison’s game-winner in 1-0 victory over Oklahoma in Spokane
Took 25 shots, put eight on goal
Member of defensive unit that allowed a Big Sky-record nine goals
Helped Montana post 11 shutouts
Played 90 minutes in Montana’s victory over Oklahoma

2022 (sophomore season):

Academic All-Big Sky Conference
Second-team All-Big Sky Conference
Started all 20 matches, averaged 80 minutes per match
Tied for third on team with six points
Had one goal, ranked second with four assists
Tied for fourth in the Big Sky in assists
Tied for third on team with 23 shots
Scored first collegiate goal in 2-1 road win at Idaho State
Four assists went to four different goal-scorers
Took season-high four shots in home draw with Wyoming
Put a shot on goal in seven of 20 matches
Played every minute in six matches, four of season’s last five

2021 (freshman season):

Academic All-Big Sky Conference
Played in all 20 matches, made one start … Averaged 43 minutes
One of team’s 18 point-scorers … Totaled two points on two assists
Collected first collegiate point assisting Skyleigh Thompson’s first collegiate goal in 6-0 home win over Texas Southern
Assisted on Bella O’Brien’s game-winner in 1-0 road victory at Southern Utah
Tied for fifth on team with 20 shots … Put five on goal
Took at least one shot in first four collegiate matches, in 11 of 20 matches overall
Played 64 minutes at Cal Poly, 62 in home draw with Portland State
Part of a defense that allowed 15 goals in 20 matches and had 11 shutouts

Career Highs
Goals: 1, three times
Assists: 2 (Idaho, 10.1.23)
Points: 3, two times
Shots: 5, five times
Shots on goal: 3, four times
Minutes: 110 (Idaho, 11.4.22)

Prep: A 2021 graduate of Monarch High ... BoCoPreps.com honorable mention all-region as a freshman in only season competing for the Coyotes ... A three-year member of state ODP team, two years made regional ODP team ... A five-year member of Real Colorado ... Played one season of ECNL, three DA, then another ECNL ... Made nationals all five years.

Personal: The daughter of Andy and Lisa Samuelson ... Has an older sister, Aubrey, and an older brother, John ... An integrative physiology major.