Kick Off the New Season: Exciting Updates from University of Montana Athletics!

Let’s play a game of Would You Rather. Would you rather have experienced Montana’s last fall season or Sacramento State’s?

Sacramento State, the Hornets, had a tough season. They managed just five wins, with only one against a team with a decent ranking. They did win the Big Sky tournament, remarkably turning draws into victories through penalty shootouts. However, they faced USC in the NCAA tournament and lost 5-0, struggling to get quality shots.

How do we measure a season like that? Was it a success because they triumphed in the tournament? Yet, they had an uphill battle with a challenging regular season.

On the flip side, Montana had a much brighter season. The Grizzlies boasted a record of 12 wins, 2 losses, and 5 draws. They kicked off strong with a 3-0 victory over Oregon State in front of an excited crowd. Montana remained unbeaten for the latter part of the season, with a standout league performance of 6-0-2. Their consistency made them the first Big Sky team to go undefeated in two consecutive seasons.

However, their journey ended on a disappointing note. They faced Sacramento State in the Big Sky tournament and were eliminated in a penalty shootout, despite a strong regular season.

Which season would you pick? The steady performance of Montana or the drama of Sacramento State’s postseason fight? Coach Chris Citowicki firmly believes in regular-season consistency. “Winning regular-season titles is important,” he states.

Looking at statistics, Montana averaged a remarkable 62 goals over two seasons while only allowing 19. Yet, the Grizzlies face a challenge; they haven’t scored in their last three post-season matches. Citowicki emphasized, “Scoring needs to be by committee. We need five players scoring consistently.”

In contrast, injuries took a toll on Montana last season. Multiple key players faced season-ending injuries, leading to a reliance on less experienced athletes. Despite this, freshman players like Bayliss Flynn stepped up impressively.

It’s crucial for Montana to address its scoring challenges moving forward. Consistency is key, yet Citowicki is eager for change. “We’ve been redefining ourselves, focusing on creating more chances,” he explains.

Looking ahead, Montana’s schedule is packed with tough opponents. They’ll face ranked teams like Seattle and Baylor, which will test their mettle. Citowicki aims to ensure his players are battle-ready, declaring, “If we do well, we’ll gain confidence for the NCAA tournament.”

Expect another compelling season as testing trials await these teams. As November approaches, we’ll see if Montana can transform their solid regular-season performance into postseason success.

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