Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho – The 2012 season for the Portland State women's soccer team came to a close as the Viks fell to Montana, 2-3, in the semifinal round of the Big Sky tournament. Despite offense from sophomore Daniela Solis and senior Amanda Howie, the Viks were unable to advance to the Big Sky soccer tournament finals.

“We got outplayed today,” head coach Laura Schott said. “We did some good things out there but Montana played like the better team and deserved to advance.”

The Grizzlies stormed out of the gates in the contest tallying two quick markers in the first fifteen minutes as Erin Craig made her presence felt, tallying a goal in the fifth minute from Adair Tyler, and assisted on a Mary Makris goal in the 13^th minute.

Portland State got some life late in the first stanza  as Solis received a pass from Amanda Howie and booted her fourth of the year to cut the deficit to 1-2 headed into halftime. Montana outshot the Viks 9-4 in the opening frame but the Viks maintained the advantage in corner kick opportunities, 5-2.

The Grizzlies struck again early in the second half as Mackenzie Akins made it 3-1 in the 55^th minute as Makris tallied the assist and put the pressure on the Viks to counter.

Howie helped PSU cut the deficit for the second time in the match as the senior corralled a shot deflection from freshman Cori Bianchini and put home the loose ball in the box making it 2-3.

While PSU was able to generate some late offensive chances, the Grizzlies held onto its one goal advantage and outlast the Viks, 3-2, and advanced to the Big Sky soccer championship match.

Montana will now wait to see who it faces in the conference finals as host Idaho State takes on Weber State later today.

The Viks were outshot in the match 19-11 and the Grizzlies held the advantage in corner kicks 8-6.

The PSU goal scorers also paced the Viks in shots with three apiece. Craig led her squad in shots with five.

Senior Lainey Hulsizer got the start in net and made seven saves and allowed three goals ands the 2012 campaign with a 9-8-2 overall record. Kristin Hoon improved to 12-6-2 after making three saves and allowing two goals in the contest.

Amanda Howie ends her PSU career on a personal high note tallying a goal in the match making it five-straight contests she has tallied a marker.

While PSU didn't accomplish its ultimate goal of registering its first Big Sky tournament title, it will go down one of the most successful seasons in program history. Portland State reeled in its second-straight Big Sky regular seasonchampionship, sharing the honor with Idaho State and Montana.The 2012 edition of Portland State women's soccer also finished with the third-best record in school history with a 9-8-2 overall mark and a 6-2-1 conference record. The squad also placed nine members on Big Sky All-Conference teams this year, matching a program high, last accomplished in 2009.

Notes: The Viks are now tied in the series history with Montana after today's loss as the series stands at 9-9-2 overall … This is the first time in six matches that the Viks have lost to the Grizzlies as they previously held a six-match unbeaten streak against their opponent … Daniela Solis' goal towards the tail end of the first half snapped a Montana shutout streak that lasted six-matches … Amanda Howie ends her PSU career having scored in five-straight contests and ends the season in the team lead in goals with six … PSU's final record of 9-8-2 is the third best mark in program history, only bested by the 2009 squad (10-6-4) and 2002 team that went 13-5-4 and made it to the Big Sky soccer championship round.