Montana Picked to Win #BigSkySoccer in 2020
FARMINGTON, Utah (July 21, 2020) – Reigning regular season champion Montana has been tabbed the 2020 Big Sky Conference soccer preseason favorite as voted on by the league’s head coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own team in the poll.
After posting an unbeaten record in conference play last season at 6-0-3, Montana welcomes back a wealth of experience with 18 letterwinners and all 11 starters returning after capturing the program’s first title since 2014.
Among Montana’s returning lineup are seven All-Big Sky honorees and 14 upperclassmen.
The Griz were picked No. 1 in the Big Sky preseason poll for the first time since 2001, totaling 70 points and four first-place votes.
“We have a strong team going into 2020,” said Montana head coach Chris Citowicki. “Our senior group especially is excited and ready to play but what I like most is the foundation that is in place behind them, a lot of young and talented players who will help us continue to compete for championships. However, this is the Big Sky and what we all know is that from top to bottom anyone can beat anyone. It’s an extremely competitive conference with great players and coaches who understand how to compete for results.”
Montana edged out defending Big Sky Tournament champion Northern Colorado by one point as the Bears received a pair of first-place votes to come in second in the poll.
As the No. 4 seed, Northern Colorado captured its second Big Sky Championship in 2019 as the Bears upset top seed Montana in the semifinals and No. 3 Eastern Washington in the title match to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The top of the poll remained close as Eastern Washington was picked third with 66 points and two first-place nods. One point behind the Eagles was Sacramento State as the Hornets collected one first-place vote. The Hornets also went unbeaten in league play last season with a 5-0-4 record to finish second in the regular season standings.
Northern Arizona earned the final first-place vote as the Lumberjacks came in fifth with 49 points.
Weber State was picked sixth with 40 points and was followed by Idaho (34), Portland State (22), Idaho State (18) and Southern Utah (17) in the poll.
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| 2020 Big Sky Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Team |
Points (First-place votes) |
| 1. Montana |
70 (4) |
| 2. Northern Colorado |
69 (2) |
| 3. Eastern Washington |
66 (2) |
| 4. Sacramento State |
65 (1) |
| 5. Northern Arizona |
49 (1) |
| 6. Weber State |
40 |
| 7. Idaho |
34 |
| 8. Portland State |
22 |
| 9. Idaho State |
18 |
| 10. Southern Utah |
17 |