Glacier boys to test Hellgate for AA state soccer crown
MISSOULA — Glacier boys soccer coach Ryan Billiet didn’t know who scored the game-winning goal in the waning moments of the state semifinals.
Frankly, he couldn’t have cared any less.
“They’re asking me, ‘Who scored, coach?’” Billiet said. “I don’t know. I just saw the net move. Just great.”
It turned out to be Conner Heil who sent the ball home, and his goal in the 78th minute on Friday afternoon at Fort Missoula sent Glacier to a heart-stopping 2-1 win over Billings Senior and the first state championship game appearance in school history.
Billiet could hardly believe it.
“State championship game? Are you kidding me?” the fourth-year coach said.
“Definitely surreal right now. The guys — I don’t think it’s really set in yet — but they were just so hungry to play well, and we played our best game of the year. That’s all you can ask for at this stage of the season.”
Dyllyn Stabler put Glacier on top in the 20th minute off an assist from Rohit Tappeta, and the lead held for most of the match.
Thiago Thompson earned the equalizer in the 72nd minute for Senior, and it appeared the two teams were on a beeline to a playoff shootout for a second consecutive season.
The Wolfpack lost the shootout 5-4 in 2016. Heil made sure they wouldn’t be forced into such a scenario again.
“We’ve been very dangerous lately on our set pieces,” Billiet said. “Both our goals today came on corners. We’ve got some great height and some great timing on those runs and some great services. We’ve really been tough to stop on them, and we’re taking advantage of them in the clutch moments, for sure.”
Glacier’s semifinal victory sets up a third matchup with Missoula Hellgate. The Wolfpack has lost the previous two, the latter of which was a 4-0 rout in Missoula.
In retrospect, however, Billiet is “thankful” for that loss, which he describes as a turning point of his team’s historic season.
“We made a few adjustments after that, and ever since then, we’ve just been rolling,” Billiet said. “We’ve been doing everything we can do to train and play at that level since then, and we’ve won seven games in a row.”
The Wolfpack is guaranteed a piece of hardware to bring back to the school’s trophy case, and they’ll try to earn the bigger of the two trophies today at 12:30 p.m.
“We’re going to remember some amazing things this year,” Billiet said, “and hopefully we chalk up one more memory of greatness.”
Semifinals
Glacier 1 1 — 2
Billings Senior 0 1 — 1
G — Dyllyn Stabler (Rohit Tappeta), 20:00
BS — Thiago Thompson (Caleb Borgstrom), 72:00
G — Conner Heil (Stabler), 78:00
Bozeman 1 0 — 1
Missoula Hellgate 3 0 — 3
MH — Sam Carnes (Rylan Compton), 5:00
B — Zach Springer (Larkin Lane), 22:00
MH — Cole Hage (PK), 28:00
MH — Beckett Arthur (Compton), 29:00
Shots on Goal — Bozeman 8, Hellgate . Keeper Saves — Bozeman 2 (Jovial Milich), Hellgate (Goalie). Corner kicks — Bozeman 1, Hellgate x. Fouls — Bozeman 18, Hellgate x. Cards — Bozeman: Yellow 1, Red 1.
Loser-out Game
CMR 1 0 — 1
Helena 3 1 — 4
C — Braden Stremcha, 1:00
H — Jackson Keller, 11:00
H — Keller, 20:00
H — Keller, 24:00
H — Diondrew Newby (Treven Maharg), 48:00
Missoula Sentinel 0 0 — 0
Billings West 0 1 — 1
BW — Daniel Tejerina (Lucas Gerbasi), 72:00
Shots on Goal — Sentinel 6, West 9. Keeper Saves — Sentinel 8 (Ty Whalen), West 6 (Ryan Cornwall).
Today
Missoula Hellgate vs. Glacier for the state title — 12:30 p.m.
Bozeman vs. Billings Senior for third place — 10 a.m.
Helena High vs. Billings West for fifth place — 10 a.m.
Girls
Glacier 1, Billings West 0
MISSOULA — An early goal by freshman forward Madison Becker was just enough for Glacier to knock out Billings West in loser-out play on the second day of AA state tourney action at Fort Missoula.
Becker scored in the 15th minute.
Glacier had plenty of scoring opportunities with 20 shots on goal to just six for West.
Sophomore Sophie Smith was stellar in goal with six keeper saves for the Wolfpack.
Glacier faces Missoula Big Sky today at 10 a.m. in the fifth/sixth place match.
Semifinals
Bozeman 1 3 — 4
Billings Senior 1 0 — 1
B – Olivia Kaiser (Sophia Robinson), 10:00
BS – Blair Stapleton, 38:00
B – Kelly Kempt (penalty kick), 46:00
B – Kylee Jones (Kempt), 56:00
B – Payton Putnam (Katie Hayes), 74:00
Helena High 3 0 — 3
Billings Skyview 0 0 — 0
H H– Melina Hammer, 3:00
HH – Alanna Vickory (Katie Martin), 23:00
H H– Kamden Hilborn, 25:00
Shots on goal – Helena 20, Skyview 6. Saves – Helena 2 (Ashlin Slanger), Skyview 5 (Skyler Chartier). Corner kicks – Helena 6, Skyview 6. Fouls – Helena 11, Skyview 11. Cards – Helena 1 (yellow, team), Skyview 2 (yellow, Taylor Gertsch; yellow, team).
Loser-Out Games
Missoula Big Sky 2 2 — 4
Helena Capital 0 2 — 2
BS – Hannah Santamaria, 16:30
BS – Tilynn McGreevey, 20:57
BS – McGreevey, 44:20
HC – Ashley Carlson, 57:00
BS – Cheyenne Cathey, 59:00
HC – Cassie Brisko, 60:00
Shots on goal – Big Sky 8, Capital 19. Saves – Big Sky 9 (Grace Denman), Capital 4 (Tanlee Pipinch). Corner kicks – Big Sky 5, Capital 4. Fouls – Big Sky 8, Capital 11. Cards – None.
Billings West 0 0 — 0
Glacier 1 0 — 1
G – Madison Becker, 15:00
Shots on goal – West 6, Glacier 20. Saves – West 9 (Kendell Ellis), Glacier 6 (Sophie Smith). Corner kicks – West 3, Glacier 4. Fouls – West 9, Glacier 10. Cards – West 2 (yellow, Grace Gregory; yellow, Lexie Bloyder).
Today
Bozeman vs. Helena for the state title — 12:30 p.m.
Senior vs. Skyview for third place — 10 a.m.
Big Sky vs. Glacier for fifth place — 10 a.m.