Box score

The University of Montana women’s soccer team suffered a 1-0 loss to the University of Washington Huskies in a closely-contested match Sunday in Seattle.  The sole goal of the game was scored by Husky Mckenna Waitley, her third for the season.

Through the first half, the score would remain even, with the Grizzly defense matching a high-powered Washington offense that had gone 7-2-1 for the season.  Leading up to this competition, the Huskies had averaged 1.73 goals per match.

Only twenty seconds into the second half, with the Grizzly defense drawn away from the goal, Waitley was able to capitalize from a well-placed pass from teammate Alex Webber, going one-on-one with Montana keeper Grace Harris and scoring from a close, left-hand position with a cross into the right side of the goal.

Play would return to a back-and-forth between teams with UM shots coming from junior Kaitlyn Heinsohn, sophomore Brandee Marone, and freshmen Erin Craig and Ashley Tombelaine.

Following the game, UM coach Neil Sedgwick said, “It was disappointing for us that Washington was able to score in that way, early in the second half.  It caused us to make some adaptations, but the girls handled everything very well.  It was a solid team effort, and against a great opponent.”

For the second time this season, Montana would again enter a match with a stronger roster than the previous contest.  After feeling the loss of veteran Sara Stevens in a 7-0 loss to Portland on Friday, the Grizzlies would benefit from 70 minutes of play from the senior Sunday.  Sedgwick said of Stevens’ return, “Sara absolutely adds experience to our side of the field.  She can play so many positions, and knows exactly what is needed from each situation. It was good to have her back.”

Stevens, in addition to Tombelaine and senior Abby Grafft, who both returned to competitive status Sunday, would aid in completion of a competitive squad for UM, which held the Huskies to fewer goals than five of the Huskies’ 11 opponents this season.

The end of competition Sunday concluded non-conference play that can only be described as a serious challenge to any competitive Division I soccer team.  In non-conference play, the Grizzlies (2-9-0), have endured notable losses to UC Davis (5-3-1), No. 14 BYU (10-2-1), Minnesota (9-2-2), No. 3 Portland (10-1-0) and Washington (8-2-1).  Together these opponents have recorded 42 wins, 10 losses and five ties.

Sedgwick said Sunday, “We are happy to leave all of the pre-conference play behind us. It is helpful, though, to end with the experience of challenging two great West Coast teams. We will be sure to bring all that we have learned on the road to our conference opener with Idaho State.”

Montana placed fourth in the Big Sky last season, qualifying for the conference tournament after going 3-7-1 in non-conference play.

Montana opens Big Sky conference play Thursday against Idaho State, which is 5-4-0 for the season. Idaho State goes into its Thursday match-up with the Grizzlies off a three-game winning streak. Play begins at 4:00 p.m. in Pocatello Thursday.

Weber State (4-6-0) will come to Missoula Sunday to challenge the Grizzlies at home.  Weber started the season 4-0, but has lost six straight matches in a row.  The Wildcats will open Big Sky conference play at home Thursday with opponent Eastern Washington.”