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Starting positions on the Montana soccer team are highly competitive. This season, four newcomers have stepped up to the challenge.

Despite only being collegiate athletes for over a month, freshmen Lauren Costa, Charlotte Dugoni, Ashley Tombelaine, and Nawal Kirts have earned starting positions on the team.

Montana coach Neil Sedgwick has been impressed with the way the newcomers have stepped into their starting roles.

“These four freshmen have exceeded expectations,” Sedgwick said.  “The whole freshman class is a quality group on and off the field.”

Costa, a 2009 graduate of Sentinel High School in Missoula, says playing soccer for Montana felt natural.  Especially since her family can watch all her games.

“Montana was my top choice,” Costa said.  “I love it here.”

When Costa found out she earned a starting position as a defender, she couldn’t believe it.  She said the transition to Division I soccer has been demanding.

“It was nerve-racking at first, but eventually everything came together,” Costa said.

Dugoni, a 2009 graduate of Jesuit High School in Portland, Ore., also had to adjust to college soccer and a starting role on the team.

“Once I got use to the speed of play, it made the transition easier,” Dugoni said.

Fitting in on the field took some time for Dugoni, but the freshman says off the field was not tough at all.

“Making friends wasn’t the hard part,” Dugoni said.  “With 27 girls on the team, friends came easy.”

The four freshmen have proven themselves to Sedgwick and their teammates.  Sedgwick says the upperclassmen have been accepting towards the freshmen.

“The team has all been very supportive because they are a quality group of individuals,” Sedgwick said.  “The upperclassmen respect what the freshmen bring.”

For Costa and Dugoni, what they bring is leadership to the defense.  Playing defense requires strong teamwork, and Sedgwick says both girls have been doing a great job.

“It’s a fantastic partnership,” Sedgwick said.  “Both are tough and relentless defenders, especially as freshmen.”

With Costa and Dugoni impacting the defense, Tombelaine and Kirts have become offensive threats.

Tombelaine, a midfielder and forward, says playing soccer in college is a lot more competitive, but once she gets on the field, she plays like it is any other game.

“I always have to be on my game,” Tombelaine said.  “Once I calm down and play, it comes natural.”

Sedgwick says Tombelaine’s impact on the field benefits the team as a whole.

“Ashley is someone defenders have to watch out for,” Sedgwick said.  “She brings energy and good attacking to the field.”

What drew Tombelaine to Montana was the atmosphere of the town and the coaching staff, but she says the closeness of her teammates and fellow freshmen is what makes her feel the most comfortable in Montana.

“The whole freshman class is close,” Tombelaine said.  “We do everything together; there is no clashing on the team.”

Costa agrees with how close the freshman class is on the team.  Whether a redshirt or a starter, the entire class sticks together.

“Playing or not, there is no difference how close we are,” Costa said.

Sedgwick says having so many contributing newcomers positively affects the team on and off the field.

“This whole class has broken the rules.” Sedgwick said.  “I’m excited to see where it goes.”

For Kirts, a midfielder, she did not expect a starting position. With the opportunity in front of her, she says she will make the best of it.

“I was planning on redshirting,” Kirts said. “I have big shoes to fill.”

Sedgwick says Kirts has filled into her starting role with ease.

“It’s not a surprise,” Sedgwick said.  “I’m happy with what she could bring at the Division I level.”

Kirts, a 2009 graduate of Carl Albert High in Midwest City, Okla., and Tombelaine, a 2009 graduate of Snohomish High School in Seattle, were both class valedictorians.

Tombelaine says success in the classroom has directly related to accomplishments on the soccer field.  However, being a student athlete in college makes time management difficult.

“Being in college, there is so much less time for school work,” Tombelaine said.  “I’ve learned I can’t procrastinate.”

All four freshmen say their first season at Montana has been a learning experience. With a tough non-conference schedule and a record of 2-9, the freshmen say the team has a lot to prove in conference play.

“Our record doesn’t represent our team,” Costa said.  “In conference, we want to start getting some wins.”

The freshmen and the rest of the Montana team will have their first chance in conference when the Griz travel to Pocatello, Idaho, to play Idaho State Thursday at 4 p.m. Montana then returns home on Sunday, when the Grizzlies face Weber State at South Campus Stadium at 1 p.m.  

“Teams in our conference will underestimate us,” Dugoni said.  “It could actually be a good thing and work to our advantage.”