After falling short in playoffs, questions persist for Montana in season of what-ifs

MISSOULA — The 2022 soccer season is formally within the books for the Montana Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies entered the season because the preseason No. 3 FCS group within the nation, however their season ended this final weekend towards North Dakota State as they completed 8-5 on the 12 months.

It will find yourself a season of what-ifs for the Griz, a group with expectations by way of the roof to open the 12 months, however one which closed with a second-round playoff exit, and 5 losses.

However as head coach Bobby Hauck put it after the season concluded, this Griz group stands alone on the prime by way of his favorites in his profession.

“Simply who they’re, how a lot they care about Montana, what they’re prepared to do for one another and for Grizzly soccer with out blinking an eye fixed,” Hauck defined throughout his Monday press convention. “They’re simply unbelievable. Purchased in, aggressive, after which if you couple that with the truth that they’re nice dudes. Like good to be round on a regular basis, this can be a particular group. And I have been round some actually particular groups that I really like dearly.”

The season was a quick begin for Montana with a 5-0 mark heading into the bye. However there, issues started to slide with three straight losses to Idaho, Sac State and Weber State, all three of which made the playoffs.

After bouncing again with wins over Large Sky bottom-dwellers in Cal Poly and Japanese Washington, the Grizzlies had been blown out within the Brawl of the Wild by Montana State, however they squeaked into the playoffs the place they topped Southeast Missouri State within the opening spherical in Missoula.

That win would find yourself being Montana’s lone victory over a group with a profitable file this 12 months earlier than the Griz exited the season final Saturday towards NDSU.

On Monday, Hauck talked in regards to the season, and stated he preferred what he noticed from his group towards the perfect within the FCS within the Bison that offers him optimism going ahead.

“They’re actually good up entrance and we gave up 4 huge runs in that recreation, I watched the movie, cannot do this,” Hauck stated. “However past that, it is not that far aside (between UM and NDSU). Watching the movie, I am inspired watching it, frankly.”

However to get to that stage, the Griz, as they do yearly, will march ahead with out among the program’s stalwarts, like Missoula native and receiver Mitch Roberts.

“I feel the factor that is made it essentially the most particular is attending to be coached by coach Hauck and all of our nice employees and my superior teammates,” Roberts stated after the NDSU loss. “Like (Hauck) stated, this can be a very particular group and possibly my favourite group I’ve ever performed on, and it is actually been an honor to put on the maroon and silver and exit with these guys that I really like and play the sport, and I will miss it lots.”

Similar goes for the Haucks, as Bobby Hauck and Robby Hauck completed their ultimate season collectively because the father-son, coach-player duo.

“It has been a lot enjoyable, and I’ve stated it earlier than, I get to spend on a regular basis with my dad for the previous six years with the COVID 12 months,” Robby Hauck stated. “That is one thing that I will in all probability by no means be capable of do once more and it has been a lot enjoyable. Everybody on this group is wonderful and it has been by far the best factor ever and I will cherish these moments without end.”

Robby Hauck even had recommendation for NDSU head coach Matt Entz after the sport, as Entz can also be teaching his son in Fargo.

“I had the best expertise ever,” Hauck stated. “There’s only a few individuals that may expertise that and that is what I advised coach (Entz) afterwards. I stated benefit from the subsequent 5 years along with your son and your group as a result of it’s one thing particular to have the ability to be coached by your father and to be actually invested within the success and this system.

“After which trying over there at Mitch, I grew up enjoying AAU basketball with Mitch and his mother coached us and having the ability to reunite with a whole lot of these guys that I’ve identified at a youthful age and meet again up and play soccer is basically particular.”

In all, Montana will bid goodbye to fifteen seniors from this 12 months’s class.

However after falling in need of expectations, it’s going to be an offseason of inquiries to reply for Montana, as Bobby Hauck now formally enters his contract 12 months, together with his present deal set to run out in January of 2024.

How will the Griz repair the offensive struggles? Will there be any adjustments on the teaching employees or any gamers misplaced to switch? And the way will Montana right particular groups errors and stop huge performs on protection that appeared to doom the Griz in all of their losses?

Quickly these questions will probably be answered, and the offseason formally begins now for Montana.

“I’m all the time enthusiastic about what is going on on right here and as upset as I’m with seeing our senior’s eligibility be up, I am excited in regards to the guys that we’ll recruit and I am excited in regards to the guys now we have coming again,” Hauck stated. “These guys have labored awfully arduous, they’ve gone arduous, actually arduous for the reason that finish of Might. They should get refreshed however our group will probably be excited to get moving into January.”