FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 10, 2025) – Four weeks of non-conference action have come and gone. Big Sky soccer teams will use the final two weeks of non-conference to fine tune their team before Big Sky play begins.
Big Sky Soccer Weekly Notes (Week 5)
Big Sky Weekly Honors Announced
Offensive Player of the Week: Maddie Ditta, Montana (M, Sr., Riverside, Calif.)
Maddie Ditta scored two goals as Montana won its lone match of the week, 5-0 at home over MSU Billings on Sunday.
Ditta now has four goals through the first six matches of the season.
Defensive Player of the Week: Lauren Butorac, Weber State (GK, Fr., Portland, Ore.)
Lauren Butorac recorded the first clean sheet of her career in the 2-0 win over Boise State, which consisted of 4 saves in the match, including crucial ones in the 62nd minute and a save on a penalty kick in the 88th minute.
The true freshman is now 3-1 in her freshman campaign in goal and has lowered her GA/AVG to 0.57 and raised her SV% to 0.889 for the season.
Week 4 Highlights
Four weeks of soccer action have been completed and Weber State still maintains the top spot in the standings with four wins. The Wildcats are coming off a big shutout victory over Boise State, the lone contest of the week for the Wildcats.
Regining Big Sky tournament champions Sacramento State also find themselves back in the win column with a statement win over San Jose State.
Montana Named Preseason Favorites
The Grizzlies earned the top spot in the preseason poll after receiving six first place votes from the league's head coaches. Montana is looking to make it three-straight regular season crowns after finishing the 2024 season with a 12-2-5 record, surrendering just two goals in conference play.
2025 Big Sky Soccer Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Montana (6) - 60
2. Eastern Washington (2) - 52
3. Idaho - 49
T4. Northern Arizona - 39
T4. Sacramento State (1) - 39
6. Weber State - 27
7. Northern Colorado - 26
8. Portland State - 22
9. Idaho State - 10
*() Indicates first place vote
Pattison Headlines Inaugural Preseason All-Conference Team
Eastern Washington's Chloe Pattison headlines the preseason All-Conference Team, earning preseason MVP honors. Pattison led the league a season ago in points (25) and goals (11). The Co-Offensive MVP from last season scored a goal in five consecutive matches, including a pair of multi-goal games in that stretch.
The Grizzlies have four members on the Preseason All-Conference Team, the most of any other school. Bayliss Flynn and Ally Henrikson are two of those members who played a crucial role in Montana's record setting-defensive efforts last season. The Grizzlies posted 12 shutouts and allowed just nine goals a season ago. Montana led the NCAA in save percentage (.903).
Idaho, Portland State and Sacramento State all have two members each earning preseason honors.
2025 Big Sky Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
FWD: Chloe Pattison, EWU (Preseason MVP)
FWD: Micala Boex, NAU
FWD: Aliayha Saldana, PSU
MID: Annika Farley, UI
MID: Chloe Seelhoff, UM
MID: Maddie Ditta, UM
MID: Ellie Farber, SAC
DEF: Izzy Thoma, UI
DEF: Ally Henrikson, UM
DEF: Liv Frazier, PSU
DEF: Sydney Sharts, SAC
GK: Bayliss Flynn, UM
Sacramento State Seeks to Repeat as Tournament Champions in 2025
Sacramento State, who earned its first NCAA berth in school history last season after winning the Big Sky Championship, will look to defend its title this year as the Hornets set their sights on another tourney crown. Since the Big Sky Championship began in 1997, there have only been six teams to win back-to-back tournament titles.
Missoula Tabbed as Host City for 2025 Big Sky Tournament
The 2025 Big Sky Conference Soccer Championship will be held at the South Campus Stadium in Missoula, Montana on Nov. 5, 7, 9. The top-six teams in the conference standings after the conclusion of the regular season will comprise the championship field.
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2025 Big Sky Soccer Schedule (Week 5)
Thursday, Sept. 11
Northern Colorado at South Dakota // 6:00 p.m. MT (SL Network)
Wyoming at Idaho State // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Weber State at Utah State // 7:00 p.m. MT (MW Network)
Idaho at Grand Canyon // 8:00 p.m. MT (WAC International)
Sacramento State at CSUN // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Hawaii // 10:00 p.m. MT (MW Network)
Friday, Sept. 12
Northern Arizona at Southern Utah // 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Sept. 13
Portland at Portland State // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Sunday, Sept. 14
Sacramento State at UC Santa Barbara // 12:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho at CSU Bakersfield // 12:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Arizona at Utah Tech // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Colorado at South Dakota State // 12:00 p.m. MT (SL Network)
North Dakota at Idaho State // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at UC Davis // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Hawaii Pacific // 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on X, Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, YouTube and TikTok for all the latest news around the league and use the hashtag #ExperienceElevated to stay connected.