PORTLAND, Ore. - After finishing its nine-game non-conference schedule on Sunday, the Portland State women's soccer team will open Big Sky play this week against Northern Colorado and Montana. The Vikings (1-5-3) will head to Greeley to face the Bears (4-4-2) on Friday (6:05 p.m.) before returning home to host the Grizzlies (3-2-5) on Sunday at Hillsboro Stadium (1:05 p.m.).

Admission to the Viking's home match on Sunday is free. All Big Sky matches this season will air on ESPN+. 

LAST TIME OUT 

The Vikings played just their third road match of the season on Sunday, falling to CSUN 2-0 in Northridge. The Vikings were shut out for the second consecutive match, despite putting six of their nine shots on goal. The Matadors added goals in the 44th and 84th minutes to clinch the victory. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Averaging 11 shots per game, the Vikings tallied 99 shots during non-conference action, out-shooting two of their last three opponents
• Sienna Higinbotham (2.13 avg shots per game) and Abi Hoffman (2.00 avg shots per game) both rank in the top five in the conference
• Hoffman leads the Vikings with four goals this season, going a perfect 3-for-3 on penalty kicks. Her four goals rank third in the Big Sky 
• The Vikings have earned 16 corner kicks in their last three matches, more than they had in their first six matches combined 
• Senior Defender Hailey Green has clocked 810 minutes, playing the full 90 minutes of every match so far 

YOUNG TALENT 

• Six freshmen have started at least one match for the Vikings this season 
• Starting all nine matches so far, Freshmen forward Elle Frazier ranks third on the team in minutes played (681)
• Frazier has scored two goals this season; her first career goal came against UC Riverside (Aug 25), before netting her second at New Mexico on Aug 1
• Freshmen forward Ocean Rideout has also played a key role in the Viking's attack, netting her first career goal against Western Oregon on Aug 21
• Defensively, freshmen Leah Heugly and Kalo Iongi both clocked over 600 minutes during non-conference action

IN GOAL 

Enya Hernandez and Sidney O'billovich have split all nine matches in goal for Portland State, facing 124 shots. The duo combined for their first shutout of the season against North Dakota on Sept 11. Hernandez, who leads with 23 saves this season, ranks fourth in Vikings history with 193 career saves. 

ROAD BLUES

A three-year division I road drought has yet to be broken by the Vikings this season. A win at UNC would be PSU's first road win over a division I opponent since Sept 27, 2019, when the Vikings beat Idaho State 3-2 in Pocatello. 

PORTLAND STATE AT NORTHERN COLORADO

Friday, Sept. 23 | 6:05 p.m. | Greeley, Colo.
Live Stats | ESPN+

• The reigning Big Sky regular season champions enter conference play with a 4-4-2 record
• The Bears have lost four-straight matches: James Madison (2-1), Virginia Tech (5-2), Washington State (6-0) and Utah State (1-0)
• They enter Friday's match looking for their first win since a 5-0 defeat of North Dakota State on Sept 4 
• The Bears have earned all four wins at home this season, going 4-1-1 at Jackson Stadium
• After graduating four all-conference players last season the Bears back line features a pair of key returners in 2021 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Maddie Duren and sophomore Honorable Mention selection Lucy Hart 
• Sophomore forward Lauren Woodhull leads UNC with five goals this season 
• Veteran head coach Tim Barrera leads the Bears in his 22nd season at the helm 

Series History

Overall: Portland State leads, 8-7-1

Last Meeting: Oct. 1, 2021, at UNC (Bears won 4-1)

Streak: L2

MONTANA AT PORTLAND STATE

Sunday, Sept. 25 | 1:05 p.m. | Hillsboro, Ore.
Live Stats | ESPN+

• The defending Big Sky Champion Grizzlies enter conference play with a 3-2-5 record
• They'll open Big Sky action at Sacramento State on Friday before traveling to Portland
• The Grizzlies have posted wins against North Dakota State (3-0), CSU Bakersfield (3-0) and MSU Billings (6-0)
• UM has yet to earn a win on the road this season, entering Friday's match against the Hornets with a 0-1-2 road record
• 2021 Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year Camellia Xu is back in net for the Grizzlies, earning Big Sky Player of the Week honors on Tuesday after posting back-to-back shutouts against Boise State and NDSU
• Sophomore forward Delaney Lou Schorr leads the Grizzlies with five goals 
• The Grizzlies are led by fifth-year head coach Chris Citowicki

Series History

Overall: Montana leads, 15-12-4

Last Meeting: Oct. 23, 2021, at Montana (Tie 0-0)

Streak: T1