Dec. 9, 2011

The Montana soccer team under first-year head coach Mark Plakorus has officially maxed out on its ability to overachieve for calendar year 2011.

On the field the Grizzlies doubled their win total from 2010 and increased their goal scoring more than threefold. The team advanced to its first Big Sky Conference tournament since 2008 and won a pair of matches over higher seeded teams to advance to the program's first NCAA tournament since 2000.

The only thing, it seems, that could derail Montana was Stanford. The Cardinal defeated the Grizzlies in an opening-round match on its way to the NCAA championship.

Earlier this week it was announced that Montana also earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award. The Grizzlies posted a 3.23 grade point average for the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters.

"It's a big focus for our program that being a student-athlete is not just about playing soccer. It's about taking care of your off-the-field responsibilities as well and making sure you're striving to be your best in all areas of your life," Plakorus said.

"We talk about not just competing on the field but also being your best at everything you do."

A pair of sophomores, Maddey Frey of Kalispell, Mont., and Mary Makris of Emigrant, Mont., had perfect 4.0 semesters for the previous two semesters.

Junior Ashley Tombelaine, who was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Tournament team and finished third on this year's team with eight points, had a 3.8 GPA last fall and a 4.0 in the spring.

"It's great to see the team get recognized for their accomplishments, because they work hard. It's not an easy thing being a student-athlete with the demands that are on your time."

To be eligible for the NSCAA's Team Academic Award, programs needed to have a 3.0 GPA for the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters.

Montana was one of five Big Sky Conference schools to earn the award. The Grizzlies had the second-highest GPA among the quintet of league schools, trailing only Northern Arizona's 3.39.