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Griz Soccer 2026

UptheGriz said:
What the general feeling about Ellen Hampton
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Ellen Hampton started all six games at center back for the Northern Ireland U-19 team in the group qualifiers for 2025-26 UEFA WU-19 Championships - playing against the best U-19 teams in Europe. Northern Ireland won some, lost some and tied some - but did not advance to the UEFA Championship Finals coming up in June/July 2026.
 
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WAGrizFan said:
True, not officially announced - but with photos on this site wearing Griz kits. And Mrs. Gore posting that transfers at certain positions were signed.
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If we believe the account to be Mrs. Gore and by all the podcast I’ve listen to clear coach Stu and his mom has a close relationship wouldn’t it be good to believe what that person is posting?
 
YOHG said:
Hey all! You’ll be able to guess who this is. Just wanted to jump on here and say I love all you guys. Your passion, dedication and desire everything Griz soccer is unmatched. The portal has been very active, had some hits and also misses, which is apart of the process.

It’s about getting the right players not just any players. We’re be young but once along time ago (1995) a former professional player turned TV pundit said about Manchester United “you can’t win anything with kids” well they went onto win the FA Cup and the Premier League. There will always be a method to the madness!
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This was posted on May 12th - probably by Coach Gore, himself. However the next poster replied - probably in jest - thanking Mrs. Gore for her post and welcoming her to eGriz.

Subsequent posts by me quoting Mrs. Gore are veiled humor attempts to shield Coach Gore from having to jump on to clarify some of our overwrought concerns.
 
WAGrizFan said:
This was posted on May 12th - probably by Coach Gore, himself. However the next poster replied - probably in jest - thanking Mrs. Gore for her post and welcoming her to eGriz.

Subsequent posts by me quoting Mrs. Gore are veiled humor attempts to shield Coach Gore from having to jump on to clarify some of our overwrought concerns.
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So we have concerns about quality over quantity? People on here wanted a huge number of transfers which I think would have done more harm than good.
 
UptheGriz said:
So we have concerns about quality over quantity? People on here wanted a huge number of transfers which I think would have done more harm than good.
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Oh I don’t think that’s the case. I think some were hoping for “older” or 1 and done transfers. At least that is how I read it. I personally love what we have in all aspects. A freshman (sophomore) that started all year in the sunbelt to me is a huge get. Especially with the international experience.
 
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IDGrizFan said:
No transfers have been officially announced by the Griz since Lewis.
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TRANSFERS
GK Avery Heeb transferring from South Carolina Upstate is confirmed here: https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/col...mens-division-i-may-transfer-tracker_aid55915

CB Ellen Hampton from Arkansas State confirmed in IG post shown above

ST (presumably Megan Sofield) still yet to be announced

F (wing) Shiana Samarasinghe (spring transfer) from UC San Diego

MF Grace Olson (spring transfer) from St. Cloud State

F Lexi Rabold (spring transfer) from Middle Tennessee State

F Elliasen Lewis (spring transfer) from Northwest College (WY)

Plus the 5 incoming freshmen
MF Stella Handlin
MF/F Lane Lee
MF Finley McKnight
MF Grace Russell
GK Lorelei Rustay

Did I miss anyone?
 
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UptheGriz said:
What the general feeling about Ellen Hampton
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NorcalGrizzly said:
Megan Sofield recently removed “GCU Soccer” from her instagram profile, and she no longer appears on the GCU 2026 roster.

Strong indicators that she is the P4 striker mentioned above.
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AZDoc said:
Oh I don’t think that’s the case. I think some were hoping for “older” or 1 and done transfers. At least that is how I read it. I personally love what we have in all aspects. A freshman (sophomore) that started all year in the sunbelt to me is a huge get. Especially with the international experience.
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Griz Fan said:
And the decommits begin...

https://twitter.com/x/status/2060521222165688683
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Unfortunately this has been happening to 2027 last few months especially with the new 5 years of eligibility coming. Purdue decomitted 3 2027s already.
 
How many players do we have this year? And then with commits next year? Do we have any DSAs? I am sure someone knows those numbers, and the facts, and if so, thank you.

Reading elsewhere in this thread I see Montana averages two or three players that transfer / drop each year, and then I think they have two seniors??
 
Griz Fan said:
TRANSFERS
GK Avery Heeb transferring from South Carolina Upstate is confirmed here: https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/col...mens-division-i-may-transfer-tracker_aid55915

CB Ellen Hampton from Arkansas State confirmed in IG post shown above

ST (presumably Megan Sofield) still yet to be announced

F (wing) Shiana Samarasinghe (spring transfer) from UC San Diego

MF Grace Olson (spring transfer) from St. Cloud State

F Lexi Rabold (spring transfer) from Middle Tennessee State

F Elliasen Lewis (spring transfer) from Northwest College (WY)

Plus the 5 incoming freshmen
MF Stella Handlin
MF/F Lane Lee
MF Finley McKnight
MF Grace Russell
GK Lorelei Rustay

Did I miss anyone?
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2026 freshman CB Cate Gusick, Nevada 5A defensive PoY
 
GrizVibes said:
How many players do we have this year? And then with commits next year? Do we have any DSAs? I am sure someone knows those numbers, and the facts, and if so, thank you.

Reading elsewhere in this thread I see Montana averages two or three players that transfer / drop each year, and then I think they have two seniors??
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You are correct about there being some roster attrition each year. The Griz had 22 players on the roster before adding from the portal. So with three known 2026 transfer signees, that puts the roster at 25 with possibly more transfer signees in the near future. And there are two seniors who transferred in prior to Coach Gore being hired who are included in the current 22.
 
WAGrizFan said:
Cate Gusick, Mackenzie Hildebrand, Jo Frischknecht and Sofia Ballesteros are the four November 2025 signees who stayed committed to the Griz when Chris left for WSU.
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Montana’s 2026 class looks strong and flexible. Ballesteros, Frischknecht, Gusick, and Hildebrand all seem to bring good accolades, versatility, and playing connections. They look like players who could compete early and play beyond their age. With the transfers and retained Montana players, I think Montana is in a good position, fingers crossed!

Does Coach Gore usually play a four-back, a three-back, or does he shift based on personnel and matchup? I looked back and may have missed it. As you can probably tell from my posts, I tend to watch the defensive side, not enough accolades there.

Also, how did the fundraiser go? Did Montana fulfill the full $40,000 matching amount? I never saw a “we’re almost there” update or any kind of tracking.
 
Okay. Take 2 on the Roster.

GOALKEEPERS [3]
  • Jill Miliffe - RS FR (or if new rule passes, year 2 of 5)
  • Lorelai Rustay - FR
  • Avey Heeb - Transfer from SC Upstate - RS SOPH (or 3 of 5)
DEFENDERS [6]
  • Josephine Frischknecht - FR
  • Lucie Rokos - RS JR (or 4 of 5)
  • Mackenzie Hildebrand - FR
  • Cate Gusick - FR
  • Kiera Grant - RS FR (or 2 of 5)
  • Ellen Hampton - Transfer from Arkansas State - SOPH
MIDFIELDERS [10]
  • Grace Olson - SR (or 4 of 5)
  • Mia Draper - SOPH
  • Caylee Kerr - RS SOPH (or 3 of 5)
  • Liv Thorne-Thomsen - SOPH
  • Finley McKnight - FR
  • Grace Morton - FR
  • Malli Rude - SOPH
  • Sofia Ballesteros - FR
  • Stella Handlin - FR
  • Haylee Bass - RS SOPH (or 3 of 5)

FORWARDS [5]
  • Elliasen Lewis - Transfer from NW College - JR
  • Shiana Samarasinghe - Transfer from UCSD - SOPH
  • Lexi Rabold - Transfer from Middle Tennessee - RS SR
  • Lane Lee - FR
  • Megan Sofield - Transfer from Arizona State & Grand Canyon U - JR
2027
  • Rabold out of eligibility
  • Unknown # of DSAs
  • Vega Arancibia - Portland Thorns Academy (OR) - MF/OB
  • Alyssa Maniar - Internationals SC ECNL (OH) - Forward
  • Kaylie Rai - Burlington (Ontario, Canada) - Goalkeeper
  • Isabella Sanabria-Cora - LAFC SoCal ECNL (CA) - Forward/MF
  • Addison Sarina - Marin FC ECNL (CA) - Forward

  • Janessa Ward - Modesto City FC (CA) - Defender - technically a 2028
 
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GrizVibes said:
Montana’s 2026 class looks strong and flexible. Ballesteros, Frischknecht, Gusick, and Hildebrand all seem to bring good accolades, versatility, and playing connections. They look like players who could compete early and play beyond their age. With the transfers and retained Montana players, I think Montana is in a good position, fingers crossed!

Does Coach Gore usually play a four-back, a three-back, or does he shift based on personnel and matchup? I looked back and may have missed it. As you can probably tell from my posts, I tend to watch the defensive side, not enough accolades there.

Also, how did the fundraiser go? Did Montana fulfill the full $40,000 matching amount? I never saw a “we’re almost there” update or any kind of tracking.
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He prides himself on adjusting to his personnel, but I have to imagine he will employ a 4-back -- especially with stating that he wants to play more possession. I suppose he could go to a 3 back and then have 2 "wingbacks."

As for the $40k, I haven't seen an update either. Odd.
 
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