With a bevy of scoring chances, an offensive output that saw Montana lead the shots category 17-4 and an air-tight defense, the Grizzlies posted their first league victory as they moved to 1-1-0 in the conference and 4-8-0 overall. After falling 1-0 to Weber State Thursday in their conference opener, first-half goals by freshman forward Brandee Marone - her third of the season - and senior defender Sara Aspinwall - the second of her career - were all the Grizzlies needed for a significant confidence boost.
“Thursday was a bit odd for this team because aside from about two or three players, everyone had real energy problems,” said Montana head coach Neil Sedgwick. “So we knew if their energy was good they would play well and in the first half they really set a tone.”
“It's hard when, just like any team, they come out more physical when they're down and they know it's do-or-die time,” Aspinwall said after sending ISU to a 1-1-1, 2-8-4 mark. “It's just a matter of keeping your head, not losing your cool and doing what we know best and that's keeping possession and playing our own game.”
The Grizzlies capitalized on an early scoring chance when Aspinwall sent a perfect free kick from about 35 yards out into the Bengals 18-yard box. Junior midfielder Meghan Chambers tried to head it past ISU keeper Maren Eves-Williams, who got a hand on it before Marone slammed home the rebound at the 7:35 mark.
UM missed out on a pair of chances to go up 2-0 when a second goal by Marone was wiped off the board by an offside call in the 19th minute and senior midfielder Sara Campbell's penalty shot was blocked by Eves-Williams in the 22nd. But Montana didn't relent.
Chambers took a corner kick in the 29th that Aspinwall eventually headed home after she found a post with a shot just a minute earlier. It was the kind of never-give-up spirit that Aspinwall believes epitomizes the attitude of the entire team.
“I agree with that,” she said. “We just know that we're there right now. We're to the point that we know it, so we're just going to keep pounding away until we come away with a victory the way we did today.”
As impressive as the Grizzlies' offense was, the defense was equally solid in allowing just one shot on goal and yielding a precious few Idaho State scoring chances. With Aspinwall and juniors Abby Grafft and Danielle McQuinn playing a three-person back line, the Bengals were never really a threat to find the back of the net.
Montana junior keeper Grace Harris was called upon to make just one save in ringing up her third shutout of the season. That gave Harris the 13th shutout of her career and tied her for second most by a Grizzly keeper with Sarah Braseth, whom Harris backed up in her redshirt season.
“We were solid playing three against three at the back,” Sedgwick said. “The second half, when all they tried to do was bump the ball forward, our three in the back and Grace in goal all did a fantastic job.”
Idaho State 0 0 - 0
Montana 2 0 - 0
UM - Brandee Marone (Meghan Chambers), 7:35
UM - Sara Aspinwall (Chambers), 28:27
Shots - Idaho State 4, Montana 17. Saves - Idaho State 9 (Maren Eves-Williams), Montana 1 (Grace Harris). Corner kicks - Idaho State 4, Montana 4. Total fouls - Idaho State 18, Montana 9. Yellow cards - Idaho State 2, Montana 1. Red cards - none.
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