FARMINGTON, Utah (Dec. 3, 2025) – A historic soccer season comes to a close with the Montana Grizzlies at the top of the podium with a pair of Big Sky trophies.
Big Sky Soccer Weekly Notes (Season Recap)
Three Big Sky Teams Represented in All-Region Honors
The United Soccer Coaches' All-Region Honors are in as Weber State's Grace Kirby, Montana's Chloe Seelhoff, and Idaho's Annika Farley have all earned All-Region honors.
Earning second team All-West honors, Grace Kirby of Weber State was one of the Big Sky's biggest offensive threats totaling 20 points on the season. Kirby led Weber State to one of their best seasons in program history as they reached the 12-win mark for the first time since 2005.
Seelhoff and Farley both wrap up their collegiate careers with third team All-West honors. Despite missing the final five games of the season due to injury, Seelhoff found herself ranked in the top-three of the conference in several offensive categories. The Washington native earned a pair of second team All-Conference honors and toaled over 30 points in her past two seasons in a Montana jersey. Farley adds this honor to a long list of accolades after 77 games in black and gold. The graduate student's final season was one to remember as she scored four goals and collected First Team All-Conference honors.
Grizzlies Battled Huskies in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament
Big Sky soccer regular season and tournament champion Montana hung with the Big Ten's best in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, but it was a pair of husky goals that proved to be the difference in the match.
Big Sky Tournament MVP Ashlyn Dvorak continued her solid play through the postseason recording a season-high seven saves against one of the best offenses in the game. The defeat was Montana's first since September, putting an end to their historic season.
The injury-battled Montana squad finished with an overall record of 11-3-5, including both a regular season and tournament crown. The Grizzlies are the first team to sweep soccer titles since 2022.
The Huskies historic tournament run ended in the Elite Eight when Duke defeated them by a score of 3-0. The Big Ten champions season came to a close with an overall record of 15-3-7.
Defense Wins Championships
In a year where the Montana Grizzlies took a hard hit to offense with injuries, the team had to relay on defense to lead them to victory.
The regular season and tournament champions completed the season with 12 shutouts in 19 games , anchored by Goalkeeper of the Year Ashlyn Dvorak and Defender of the Year Ally Henrikson. The duo played an integeral role in Montana's success this season who surrendured just three goals in conference play and 11 on the season.
Montana's 1-1 tie against Eastern Washington on Oct. 2 served as the only goal surrended by the Grizzlies defense in the whole month of October. The team posted five consecutive shutouts heading into the conference tournament.
Big Sky Tournament MVP Ashlyn Dvorak proved her dominance in goal during the conference tournament where she saved four PKs in a pair of shootouts and even converted one of her own.
Montana's senior class goes out with 44 shutouts in 77 games, leading them to three regular seasons title and a Big Sky tournament crown.
Montana Wins First Soccer Tournament Title Since 2021
The historic season continues for Montana as the Grizzlies become the first team to sweep soccer titles in the Big Sky since 2022. The tournament crown is Montana's first since 2021.
The madness in Missoula carried through Championship Sunday, as defenses stood strong, holding the league's top offenses in the conferece scoreless through 110 minutes of play.
It took penalty kicks to find a winner and it was tournament MVP Ashlyn Dvorak who stood strong for Montana saving two penalty kicks in the shootout to lead her team to victory. She also converted a penalty kick of her own.
2025 Big Sky Soccer All-Tournament Team
M: Sara Rodgers, Idaho
M: Avery Ott, Northern Arizona
D: Bella Sackett, Weber State
M: Brynlee Meyerhoffer, Weber State
GK: Lauren Butorac, Weber State
D: Riley Carolan, Montana
D: Makena Smith, Montana
M: Maddie Ditta, Montana
F: Maycen Slater, Montana
F: Eliza Bentler, Montana
F: Reagan Brisendine, Montana
GK: Ashlyn Dvorak, Montana (MVP)
All-Conference Awards Announced
The 2025 Big Sky Conference Women’s Soccer Individual Awards and All-Conference Teams have been announced, highlighting the best and brightest stars across the league.
These awards are voted on by the league’s head coaches. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players in the process.
Weber State led the way with a trio of individual awards and six members on the All-Conference team. Lauren Butorac was a staple in the Wildcat's defensive efforts earning Freshman of the Year honors in her rookie campaign. Fellow Wildcat Presley Ray earned Newcomer of the Year in her first season in purple and white as well. Kyle Christensen led the Wildcats to a historic season in his first year at the helm. The 11 wins this season is the most for a first-year coach in program history.
Montana also has a strong prescence through the list of awards, collecting two individual awards and six All-Conference honors. Ally Henrikson earns Defensive MVP honors, while Ashlyn Dvorak was named Goalkeeper of the Year. The dynamic duo anchored a backline that only surrendered one goal in their last seven matches and 11 shutouts on the season.
Co-Offensive MVP honors are split between Eastern Washington's Delani Walker and Northern Arizona's Micala Boex. The two offensive star powers will square off in the opening game of the Big Sky Tournament on Wednesday.
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