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Griz Soccer 2026

N

neon90

Well-known member
Now that we hired Jeremy Renner (jokes, but just me?) look forward to a fresh new start for Griz Soccer. Great things ahead and Gore has a great Griz soccer community behind him and this team.

Got me thinking, though -- after following all this eGriz offseason banter that we should create an eGriz fundraising challenge. Let's all put our money where our keyboards are and raise some money for this program. Who's in?

Roster priorities --
The portal is an obvious priority and the biggest needs IMHO are a seasoned GKer and center back to solidify the back line - obviously more needs than that. With 500 people in the portal and more to join the portal in May, I'm optimistic Gore can find the next great Griz transfers. While next year may be a rebuild year, the Griz will bounce back quickly.
 
neon90 said:
Now that we hired Jeremy Renner (jokes, but just me?) look forward to a fresh new start for Griz Soccer. Great things ahead and Gore has a great Griz soccer community behind him and this team.

Got me thinking, though -- after following all this eGriz offseason banter that we should create an eGriz fundraising challenge. Let's all put our money where our keyboards are and raise some money for this program. Who's in?

Roster priorities --
The portal is an obvious priority and the biggest needs IMHO are a seasoned GKer and center back to solidify the back line - obviously more needs than that. With 500 people in the portal and more to join the portal in May, I'm optimistic Gore can find the next great Griz transfers. While next year may be a rebuild year, the Griz will bounce back quickly.
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Would love to help, who's in charge of NIL/fundraising for Women's soccer?? Is there a committee you can join??
 
No talks to get lights. 500k price tag and they don’t see the benefit. Sounds like they do have some plans for new locker area. But unless someone donates specifically for lights, don’t expect them anytime soon.
 
BDizzle said:
No talks to get lights. 500k price tag and they don’t see the benefit. Sounds like they do have some plans for new locker area. But unless someone donates specifically for lights, don’t expect them anytime soon.
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Thanks, that price seems very high. Would be good to see how much Utah state payed they got lights last year. Insane that club soccer can get lights installed but not a D1 university. Can we get locker room renderings. Is there a 3d video can we get as well
 
BDizzle said:
No talks to get lights. 500k price tag and they don’t see the benefit. Sounds like they do have some plans for new locker area. But unless someone donates specifically for lights, don’t expect them anytime soon.
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I would think night games would draw more fans (generate more revenue) and perhaps the MHSA would be interested in renting the facility for high school state championships given all the games wouldn’t have to be played during daylight hours. Missoula is also much more affordable tournament destination than Bozeman.
 
grizfnz said:
I would think night games would draw more fans (generate more revenue) and perhaps the MHSA would be interested in renting the facility for high school state championships given all the games wouldn’t have to be played during daylight hours. Missoula is also much more affordable tournament destination than Bozeman.
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Agree. I think the 500k being throw is inaccurate. Would be good if there was a lighting plan it would tell you costs. Boise State installed lights 2 years ago. Before lights most games were between 3-430 averaged 500 fans with lights most games were at 7pm attendance for increased to over 1000 game
 
MontanaGrizSoccer said:
Agree. I think the 500k being throw is inaccurate. Would be good if there was a lighting plan it would tell you costs. Boise State installed lights 2 years ago. Before lights most games were between 3-430 averaged 500 fans with lights most games were at 7pm attendance for increased to over 1000 game
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Page 11 speaks to the stadium lighting upgrades to the BOAS Tennis and Soccer Complex (Boise State)

These are meeting notes from the Permanent Building Funding Advisory Council (from Idaho Division of Public Works website). I can't verify if this was the final number...but it was what was discussed at their forum.

Take it for what it's worth....

I tried to find something similar for Utah State but they just showed an all-in number for all of their facility upgrades and didn't break out lighting.
 
GrizzlyBen said:

Page 11 speaks to the stadium lighting upgrades to the BOAS Tennis and Soccer Complex (Boise State)

These are meeting notes from the Permanent Building Funding Advisory Council (from Idaho Division of Public Works website). I can't verify if this was the final number...but it was what was discussed at their forum.

Take it for what it's worth....

I tried to find something similar for Utah State but they just showed an all-in number for all of their facility upgrades and didn't break out lighting.
Click to expand...
Good find
 
My understanding is that Griz want to add lights to softball at same time and Haslam won't separate them, that's why the high $500k number. (I have also heard that part of the project would be bringing in better fiber to the field in part for game day productions. I don't know what the issue is there, but sounds like it's a need.) Combining the lights with softball makes it significantly less achievable - both in terms of fundraising and as an athletic department priority. (Haslam literally said on the soccer game broadcast that he'd rather "buy players," and of course he was talking football players.)
IMHO we should not be stuck with softball - a team that has not been around as long or been anywhere near as successful as soccer has. So first step is to get Haslam to see them as separate projects. (And for the record, Citowicki never made it an issue or priority to get lights. He never mentioned it in any fundraising efforts, never fought for it. I think they considered bringing in temporary lights for playoffs but not sure what that cost would have been or why they didn't. At that time of year, they become more critical.)
The best way to contribute is Griz SC -- https://upwithmontana.com/sports-specific-giving/grizsc/ - and the contacts at the athletic department are listed on that link as Dan Ingram and Griz alum Bella O'Brien.
 
neon90 said:
My understanding is that Griz want to add lights to softball at same time and Haslam won't separate them, that's why the high $500k number. (I have also heard that part of the project would be bringing in better fiber to the field in part for game day productions. I don't know what the issue is there, but sounds like it's a need.) Combining the lights with softball makes it significantly less achievable - both in terms of fundraising and as an athletic department priority. (Haslam literally said on the soccer game broadcast that he'd rather "buy players," and of course he was talking football players.)
IMHO we should not be stuck with softball - a team that has not been around as long or been anywhere near as successful as soccer has. So first step is to get Haslam to see them as separate projects. (And for the record, Citowicki never made it an issue or priority to get lights. He never mentioned it in any fundraising efforts, never fought for it. I think they considered bringing in temporary lights for playoffs but not sure what that cost would have been or why they didn't. At that time of year, they become more critical.)
The best way to contribute is Griz SC -- https://upwithmontana.com/sports-specific-giving/grizsc/ - and the contacts at the athletic department are listed on that link as Dan Ingram and Griz alum Bella O'Brien.
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Thank you, appreciate it. Maybe you save money on contractor and/or mobilization costs. Kent was on the Mountain Sports talking about the new soccer coach and literally said I don't know soccer, its Jeans area and didn't know that in women's soccer you recruit two years out so I can see him not understanding.
 
neon90 said:
My understanding is that Griz want to add lights to softball at same time and Haslam won't separate them, that's why the high $500k number. (I have also heard that part of the project would be bringing in better fiber to the field in part for game day productions. I don't know what the issue is there, but sounds like it's a need.) Combining the lights with softball makes it significantly less achievable - both in terms of fundraising and as an athletic department priority. (Haslam literally said on the soccer game broadcast that he'd rather "buy players," and of course he was talking football players.)
IMHO we should not be stuck with softball - a team that has not been around as long or been anywhere near as successful as soccer has. So first step is to get Haslam to see them as separate projects. (And for the record, Citowicki never made it an issue or priority to get lights. He never mentioned it in any fundraising efforts, never fought for it. I think they considered bringing in temporary lights for playoffs but not sure what that cost would have been or why they didn't. At that time of year, they become more critical.)
The best way to contribute is Griz SC -- https://upwithmontana.com/sports-specific-giving/grizsc/ - and the contacts at the athletic department are listed on that link as Dan Ingram and Griz alum Bella O'Brien.
Click to expand...
That's just a lazy AD, over the last 8 years they couldn't get funds for lights, maybe new president cleans house. Citowicki was very vocal on lights and facilities on his last appearance on the Griz Fan podcast, was this just cover because he knew he was leaving. I know he was telling parents that he was loosing out on recruits that could take the program higher due to lack of resources. Would still be good for the AD to share their lighting plan which shows the costs so we have real numbers to look at.
 
This is what i have for the current roster with experience and stats as 3/6/26

F
#23 RSr Lexi Rabold
-Sr '25 Middle Tennessee(D1)
0/4g 0g/0a 1sh/1sg 22m
-Jr '24 Arcadia(D3)
20/20g 8g/3a 52sh/29sg 1520m
-So '23 Arcadia(D3)
19/20g 7g/2a 59sh/23sg 1361m
-Fr '22 Arcadia(D3)
0/1g 0g/0a 0sh/0sg 12m
#15 So Shaina Samarasinghe
-Fr '25 UC San Diego(D1)
0/12g 0g/0a 4sh/2sg 191m

M
#2 Sr Grace Olsen
-Jr '25 St Cloud St(Minn)(D2)
24/24g 6g/6a 55sh 33sg 1723m
-So '24 St Cloud St(Minn)(D2)
20/20g 4g/3a 30sh/18sg 1631m
-Fr '23 St Cloud St(Minn)(D2)
21/21g 2g/2a 21sh/10sg 1877m
#29 RSo Hayley Bass
-So '25 Montana
0g
-Fr '24 Montana
14/19g 0g/0a 7sh/2sg 992m
#6 So Liv Thorne-Thompson
-Fr '25 Montana
6/15g 0g/0a 6sh/4sg 645m
#5 RSo Caylee Kerr
-RFr '25 Montana
0/17g 1g/1a 6sh/2sg 498m
-Fr '24 Montana
0g
#4 So Mia Draper
-Fr '25 Montana
0/14g 0g/0a 4sh/2sg 184m
#11 So Malli Rude
-Fr '25 Montana
0/11g 0g/0a 2sh/2sg 141m
#10 Fr Grace Morton
-HS '25
#? Fr Sofia Ballesteros
-HS '25

D
#12 RJr Lucie Rokos
-RSo '25 Montana
14/20g 1g/1a 13sh/5sg 1114m
-RFr '24 Montana
3/15g 1g/0a 3sh/1sg 443m
-Fr '23 Montana
0g
#24 RFr Kiera Grant
-Fr '25 Montana
0g
#? Fr Josephine Frischknecht
-HS '25
#? Fr Kate Gusick
-HS '25
#? Fr Mackenzie Hildebrand
-HS '25

G
#1 RFr Jill Miliffe
-Fr '25 Montana
0g
 
neon90 said:
My understanding is that Griz want to add lights to softball at same time and Haslam won't separate them, that's why the high $500k number. (I have also heard that part of the project would be bringing in better fiber to the field in part for game day productions. I don't know what the issue is there, but sounds like it's a need.) Combining the lights with softball makes it significantly less achievable - both in terms of fundraising and as an athletic department priority. (Haslam literally said on the soccer game broadcast that he'd rather "buy players," and of course he was talking football players.)
IMHO we should not be stuck with softball - a team that has not been around as long or been anywhere near as successful as soccer has. So first step is to get Haslam to see them as separate projects. (And for the record, Citowicki never made it an issue or priority to get lights. He never mentioned it in any fundraising efforts, never fought for it. I think they considered bringing in temporary lights for playoffs but not sure what that cost would have been or why they didn't. At that time of year, they become more critical.)
The best way to contribute is Griz SC -- https://upwithmontana.com/sports-specific-giving/grizsc/ - and the contacts at the athletic department are listed on that link as Dan Ingram and Griz alum Bella O'Brien.
Click to expand...
Just following up on this old thread on the cost of lights (closing the loop). I petitioned for details from Utah State University who went through a big soccer field upgrade project completed for Fall 2025. It looks like they spent ~$950K on lights + installation and ~$150 on electrical upgrades to support the lights. They purchased the system from Musco https://www.musco.com/solution/soccer/. It's not cheap.
 
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