Glacier blasts Big Sky
Glacier broke lose in the second half, scoring six times to blast Missoula Big Sky 7-0 in a Western AA boys soccer play-in match at Glacier High School on Tuesday afternoon.
Glacier, the sixth seed, led 1-0 at the intermission on Connor Griffin’s goal at 12 minutes.
It all fell into place for the Wolfpack in the final 40 minutes, however, with Griffin, Daniel Camp, Dyllyn Stabler, Campbell Smith, Zane Elliott and Tyler Petek all netting shots.
“Give them credit,” Glacier coach Ryan Billiet said of Big Sky.
“They played some compact defense in the first half, made it difficult for us to get opportunities on goal. We were able to open them up and create goal scoring opportunities in the second half and finish well.”
Glacier outshot Big Sky 27-4 on goal. Glacier had seven corner kicks to zero for Big Sky.
Glacier also beat Big Sky, the seventh seed, twice during the regular season.
The Wolfpack had to work through an injury in this one when Micah Heil, a junior midfielder, left the match.
“It happened midway through the first half,” Billiet said.
“We had another gentleman step in there and get some reps for the rest of the game.”
Taking over for Heil was freshman Solomon Dalla Betta.
“He has started for us on a few games,” Billiet said of Dalla Betta.
“He slotted himself right back in there. We’re excited to have a guy of his quality who has varsity time.”
Heil will not be available for Glacier’s next match — noon Thursday at third-seed Missoula Sentinel. The winner of that match advances to state.
“We’ve had good matches with them,” Billiett said of Sentinel.
“We match up well against them.
“We have put ourselves in an opportunity to win a game and go to state,” he continued.
“That’s what we have been hoping for all season long.”
Sentinel beat Glacier twice in earlier matchups this fall — 2-0 and 5-1.
The Class AA state tournament will be held Oct. 25-27 in Helena.
Big Sky 0 0 — 0
Glacier 1 6 — 7
G — Connor Griffin, 12:00
G — Dyllyn Stabler (Kamren Barkus), 42:00
G — Daniel Camp, 43:00
G — Griffin (Barkus), 63:00
G — Campbell Smith (Braden Nitschelm), 74:00
G — Zane Elliott, (Nitschelm), 78:00
G — Tyler Petek (Sullivan Coggins), 79:00
Shots on goal — Big Sky 4, Glacier 27; Corner kicks — Big Sky 0, Glacier 7; Keeper saves — Big Sky 20 (Josh Veach), Glacier 3 (Andrew Lorenc 1, Johnathan Pyron 2); Fouls — Big Sky 6, Glacier 6; Cards — None.
Girls
Helena Capital 4, Glacier 0
HELENA — Ellie Stifler and Paris Prissel scored in both halves to lift Helena Capital over Glacier in a Western AA play-in match.
Capital, the sixth seed, outshot Glacier, the seventh seed, 17-8 on goal.
Capital moves on to play third-seed Missoula Sentinel in Missoula later this week. The winner of that matches advances to state.
The Class AA state tournament will be held Oct. 25-27 in Helena.
Glacier 0 0 — 0
Capital 2 2 — 4
HC — Ellie Stifler (Cassie Brisko), 12:00
HC — Paris Prissel (Megan Lindbo), 36:00
HC — Prissel (U/A), 64:00
HC — Stiffler (Brisko), 75:00
Shots on Goal — Glacier 8, Capital 17; Corner kicks — NA; Keeper saves — Glacier (Sophie Smith 10), Capital (Rachel Kosena 6); Fouls — NA; Cards — NA.