(Editor's note: University of Montana athletics release)
MISSOULA -- The Montana women’s soccer team has landed a pair of players on the United Soccer Coaches’ Scholar All-West Region teams, the organization announced this week.
Junior goalkeeper Claire Howard and junior defender Avery Adams were two of just 152 Division I student-athletes -- and half of the Big Sky Conference’s total of four -- to be recognized.
Montana has now had seven Scholar All-West Region selections over the past four seasons. It was the first time being honored for both Howard and Adams.
Howard, a goalkeeper who was voted second-team All-Big Sky Conference, was named second-team Scholar All-West Region. She earned a degree in communication studies, with a GPA of 3.70, following the conclusion of the fall semester, and will begin working on a master’s degree in public administration in the spring.
Howard had a 0.78 goals-against average in the fall, as Montana won the Big Sky regular-season championship with an unbeaten league record of 6-0-3.
Her nine shutouts upped her career total to 26, which broke the Grizzly program record of 24, and moved her within three of the Big Sky record of 29.
Adams, who has a 3.98 GPA as an economics major, was voted first-team All-Big Sky Conference at regular season’s end. She was named third-team Scholar All-West Region. She opened the season at outside back, but was moved to holding midfielder six matches in to help cover for an injury to Ali Monroe. She would play that position the rest of the season.
Adams helped Montana post nine shutouts, while allowing just 16 goals in 19 matches, with only two goals allowed in nine regular-season Big Sky matches.
Adams had a team-high three assists, including the helper on Kendall Furrow’s goal in Montana’s 1-0 victory at Eastern Washington that clinched the regular-season title for the Grizzlies.
