In last year’s Big Sky Conference Championship, the Montana Grizzlies needed a pair of shootout victories to advance to the program’s first NCAA tournament since 2000.

    In their opening tournament game this year, the third-seeded Grizzlies avoided overtime and took out No. 2 Portland State 3-2 Friday at Davis Field.

    Montana advances to play Idaho State, the overall No. 1 seed, Sunday at 1 p.m.

    In his second year at Montana, head coach Mark Plakorus has guided the Grizzlies to back-to-back title games.

    “We’re just happy to be able to play more than anything,” Plakorus said. “We wanted the opportunity to come back to the tournament, and that’s what we worked hard to do.”

    For the Grizzlies, beating Portland State was payback for a two-goal loss Sept. 28 in Portland. That defeat was part of a road-trip where Montana lost its only two conference games of the season.

    Entering Friday’s match, the Grizzlies, winners of six straight, hadn’t allowed a goal since Oct. 5.

    Their winning streak continued against the Vikings because the Big Sky’s co-Offensive MVP Erin Craig was merciless. She scored six minutes into the match to help Montana take a 1-0 lead, her seventh goal of the year.

    Craig, a senior from Great Falls, Mont., sent a cross into the box eight minutes later that Mary Makris hammered away into the near post for a two-goal advantage.

    “Getting to play Portland State was a good thing for us,” Plakorus said. “They’re a very good team. They’re very well coached. They’ve got some great players, but we didn’t feel we played up to our potential when we played them last time.”    

    Up 2-0 with 77 minutes left to play, Montana kept on the attack, attempting to bury Portland State’s comeback hopes.

    The Vikings, the preseason favorite, however, kept fighting and drew within one goal at halftime after Daniela Solis curved in a left-footed kick over Grizzly goalkeeper Kristen Hoon’s outstretched glove.

    Though Portland State was desperate for an equalizing goal, Montana was the team creating scoring opportunities in the opening minutes of the second half. The Griz out shot PSU 19-11 for the game

    Mackenzie Akins, off an assist from Makris, scored in the 56th minute to open the lead back to two goals.

    “We knew even though we were up 3-1, it wasn’t over,” Plakorus said. “That’s why we were trying to push to get another one, get us some breathing room. Because it only takes one chance to get you back in the game. (Portland State) did a good job of fighting their way back into it.”

    In the 72nd minute, the Vikings closed the gap to 3-2 after Amanda Howie nailed home a goal, her sixth of the season.

    Howie’s shot was PSU’s last quality opportunity.

    “When we were up the two (goals), I thought we dropped a little bit, let them back in it,” Plakorus said. “But we responded well and did what we needed to do to come out on top.”

    The loss drops Portland State’s all-time record in the Big Sky tournament to 1-7-2.

    On Sunday, the Grizzlies will attempt to claim the program’s fifth Big Sky title.