At the end of the season the Cougs saw their back line dismantled due to transfers and players graduating. With the hiring of Chris Citowicki as the next head coach this left some unanswered questions. 

Citowicki has been able to add key pieces to the defensive with the signings of Riley Carolan, and goalie Ashlyn Dvorak both following Citowicki from the University of Montana Grizzlies. 

With these signings the Cougs’ back line will now have four defenders on the roster as Carolan  joins sixth year student Jenna Studer, sophomore Aaya McLyn, and redshirt junior Meg Devall. Additionally there are now three goalkeepers on the roster, Dvorak will be joining sixth year student Keara Fitzgerald, and sophomore Sidney Venier. 

 

Riley Carolan

Carloan, who is a Seattle native, will be returning back to the state for her senior season. This past season at Montana she played in 17 of 20 matches. 

Carolan was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Tournament team, and played in every minute of the tournament. She also played in the Griz’s NCAA Tournament appearance against the University of Washington where they lost 2-0. 

Carolan will provide defensive depth for the Cougs. Last season for the Grizzlies she helped them find 12 shutouts only allowing a 0.64 goals-against average. She also provided an assist that would help the Grizzlies find a win at one point in the season.

  

Ashlyn Dvorak 

Dvorak is joining the Cougars from Montana where she spent three seasons and will be a redshirt senior. This past season Dvorak appeared in all 20 games and started all but three games for the Grizzlies, including a game against the Cougs.

In net she was a brick wall recording nine shutouts. She also led the Big Sky conference in goals-against average with 0.61 and only allowed 11 goals on the season. Additionally she was named Big Sky goalkeeper of the year, First-team All-Big Sky Conference, Big Sky Conference championship MVP, and Big Sky Conference defensive player of the week twice. 

Dvorak also finished top 25 in the country in goals-against average ranking No. 14. She was also No. 19 in save percentage (.851) and her nine shutouts was enough to finish No. 9 in the country.