MISSOULA, Mont. — Goalkeeper Izzy Palmatier finished with six saves in net while Cassandra Herrman and Abigail Lopez each collected a pair of shots, but host Montana scored single goals in each half en route to a 2-0 shutout on Thursday afternoon at South Campus Field in Missoula, Mont.

The Hornets finished the regular season with a 4-8-5 overall record and a 2-3-3 mark in Big Sky Conference play, but remain alive for one of six league tournament berths. Despite Thursday's defeat, Sacramento State can join the conference's postseason field with an Eastern Washington loss and a Northern Colorado loss or draw in its final two matches.

Both schools play on Friday (Oct. 20) with the Eagles facing Northern Arizona at home at 3 p.m. PT, and the Bears traveling to Idaho for a 6 p.m. kick-off.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies improved to 12-2-3 overall and 6-0-1 in conference play, clinching the Big Sky's regular season title outright. As the No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament, Montana earns a bye into the semifinals on Nov. 3.

Palmatier's six saves are tied for the third-highest total in her career and gave her 22 saves while facing 61 shots over her last three contests and now has 66 saves on the year.

The Grizzlies opened the scoring just before the 16-minute mark as Skyleigh Thompson saved a ball from going out of bounds near the right post and banged in a goal off a defender for the 1-0 lead. That advantage lasted through the half until Eliza Bentler doubled the lead in the 65th minute, putting home a rebound off the post.

Montana finished with a 23-6 advantage in the shot column, putting eight on frame, while attempting three of the five corners on the day.

The first round of the Big Sky Tournament kicks-off on Nov. 1 and concludes with the championship match on Nov. 5.