The Grizzlies failed to mount a serious scoring threat and were shut out for the second time in three matches this season, falling 3-0 to the University of Washington before 417 disappointed Montana fans at South Campus Stadium.
The Huskies, playing their first match of the campaign, helped continue UM's early-season woes, getting goals from sophomore defender Kendyl Pele and freshman midfielder Kate Deines in the first half as the Grizzlies (0-3-0) were held without a shot in the first 45 minutes. Junior forward Veronica Perez put the exclamation point on Washington's victory by netting a penalty shot in the 74th minute.
That's not a good sign for a team that scored just 10 goals in 17 games in 2007, when they stumbled to a 3-12-2 record. But fifth-year UM head coach Neil Sedgwick refuses to see his squad's lack of firepower as a cause for concern just yet.
“This was actually a step forward for us,” he said. “We had three moments in the game ... two poor clearances and the penalty shot. But when I watched the game, possession-wise we did OK. As a team, we still have to be more penetrative, but we did take care of the ball.”
The sides played evenly through the opening stages of the match. But in the 19th minute, Pele took a pass from junior forward Alex Kirk at the top of the 18-yard box and beat Montana keeper Grace Harris low and just inside the left post.
That seemed to take what wind Montana had out of its sails, and after Deines buried a rebound off a shot by Kirk 14 minutes later, the Huskies went into intermission with a two-goal advantage.
“We definitely get a little frustrated when, in the beginning up until that first goal, that we were the dominant team, especially in the midfield,” said Aspinwall of playing from behind. “I think we possessed it a lot better than they did and I thought we created a lot more chances than they did. Our few little breakdowns, it always seems like the other team can capitalize on those and we need to make sure we put away our chances, too.”
Heinsohn got the Grizzlies into the shot column four minutes into the second half off a solid feed from junior defender Abby Grafft. That was Montana's only shot on goal and the only save Huskies goalkeeper Alex Phillips was forced to make in earning the shutout.
After terrorizing the Montana defense for much of the afternoon, Perez then capped the scoring after getting taken down in the UM 18-yard box, resulting in a penalty kick. She sent a line drive into the lower-right corner and Harris had no chance in stopping UW's third goal.
Though far from dissatisfied with his effort, Sedgwick did admit his team must improve its play on the offensive side of the field.
“We're going to continue to work on what we do in the final third and in the other team's box,” he said. “That's where the game is decided. We weren't exceptional in their box today and when they were in ours, they picked up loose balls and we weren't exceptional there. Keeping possession isn't going to win you games, but hopefully it will lead us to getting some penetration.”
Montana hits the road for its next five matches before returning home to face Boise State on Sept. 28.
Washington 2 1 - 3
Montana 0 0 - 0
UW - Kendyl Pele (Alex Kirk) 18:15
UW - Kate Deines (Kirk) 32:16
UW - Veronica Perez (PK) 73:14
Shots - Washington 14, Montana 4. Corner kicks - Washington 5, Montana 2. Saves - Washington 1 (Alex Phillips), Montana 6 (Grace Harris 5, team 1). Total fouls - Washington 11, Montana 9. Yellow cards - Washington 1. Red cards - None.
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