Hellgate downs Glacier

GREG SCHINDLER/The Daily Inter Lake

Wolfpack tied until well into second half, but drops a nail-biter

What a difference a few weeks make.

The Glacier High School girls' soccer team lost a 2-1 Western AA nail-biter to Missoula Hellgate on Saturday at Kidsports Complex.

The Knights handled the Wolfpack 4-1 on Sept. 11, but Glacier raced to an early lead Saturday and didn't trail until well into the second half.

Sydney Sharaf scored off Maddey Frey's assist in the sixth minute, giving Glacier a 1-0 advantage. Hellgate's Lauren Christian found the net off a Taylor Simkins pass to make it 1-all in the 21st minute before feeding the ball to Piper Frame for a 57th-minute game-winning strike.

The Wolfpack nearly forged a tie in the 67th minute when one shot was stopped and the ensuing deflection was sent just over the crossbar.

The Knights improved to 5-4-2 while the Wolfpack fell to 2-8.

"I think we played them really well," Frey said. "We totally stepped it up and just couldn't get a shot in, but they have a hard defense."

Glacier's defense also was solid. The Knights fired 18 shots on goal, but 14 of them were smothered by keeper Kayla Byle, who was busy most of the second half.

"Kayla did amazing," Frey said. "If it wasn't for her, the score might have differed a little. I'm really proud of her."

Nicole Hall and Morgan Zauner showed outstanding versatility as the Wolfpack played with limited reserves less than 24 hours after a 2-1 loss at Helena Capital.

"The girls played an outstanding game today," Glacier coach Paul Holmgren said. "Coming back late last night and getting up this morning, they just came in here and they focused and played.

"The defense just did a great job. They were patient, they were tenacious, they stayed in front. They just kept working. They just kept plugging away."

Freshman Jacque Willich was a stalwart in the back, thwarting a second-half Hellgate scoring chance with a textbook tackle.

Hellgate coach Geoff Birnbaum said the Knights got their attack in gear by winning balls and making runs on the outside with their midfielders because Glacier defends the middle so well.

"I wasn't surprised it was a battle," Birnbaum said. "I think Glacier's definitely stepped up physically. They're very athletic, they run very well, and I sort of expected it. I'm really grateful to get a win."

And Holmgren wasn't surprised the Wolfpack gave the Knights all they could handle in their rematch.

"It's been really rewarding for all of us - as coaches to see the improvement and cohesiveness of the group, and then for the girls, their expectations of themselves and their belief in themselves has tremendously improved," he said.

Hellgate 1 1 - 2

Glacier 1 0 - 1

HELLGATE - Lauren Christian (Taylor Simkins), 21:00; Piper Frame (Christian), 57:00

GLACIER - Sydney Sharaf (Maddey Frey), 6:00

Shots on goal - Hel. 18, Gla. 9

Corner kicks - Hel. 2, Gla. 3

Goalie saves - Hel. 3 (Molly Callahan-Baumstark), Gla. 14 (Kayla Byle)

Fouls - Hel. 8, Gla. 9

Cards - None

Hellgate 4, Glacier 0 (boys)

The Wolfpack narrowed the gap, but couldn't get over the hump.

Glacier opened the Western AA game with several flurries of pressure, playing Hellgate much closer than it did Sept. 11 in a 7-0 loss, but the Knights' experience and consistency proved pivotal.

Bryan Nickerson gave Hellgate a 1-0 lead, scoring off a beautiful cross from Garion Holian in the 14th minute. Zach Affholter gave the Knights a 2-0 halftime advantage, and Holian and Matt Harrison iced the match with second-half goals.

"We came out pretty well in the first half, moved the ball well," Glacier coach Ryan O'Rourke said. "We had some good opportunities in the first half, but the second half it was pretty dead out there for us."

The Wolfpack (1-9) lost a 2-0 slugfest at Helena Capital on Friday night.

"I guess it's not too surprising, but it was a little tough to come out and see them play like that in the second half because we definitely could have been better," O'Rourke said.

Evan McLellan had one of Glacier's best scoring chances, firing just outside the near post in the 22nd minute.

The Knights out-shot the Wolfpack 19-6 as Glacier goalkeeper Kasey Haugan tallied 10 saves.

"I think we played good," McLellan said. "We just weren't stepping to the ball as much. We were giving (the Knights) too much space and letting them just dribble around.

"We were really tired today. Near the beginning we had our intensity up and we were playing pretty hard."

While Glacier's talented underclassmen struggled to maintain consistency, Hellgate (5-4-2) thrived behind its eight seniors, including Holian, Nickerson and Affholter.

"It's hard sometimes to get motivated when you're on a road trip, or for whatever the reason, so it was definitely good that the seniors came out and motivated these guys," Hellgate coach Jay Anderson said.

"They came out and played like a team. They didn't try to do too much individual stuff. They got the ball wide and did exactly what I asked."

Glacier battles Flathead on Thursday night at Legends Stadium. The boys play at 6, followed by the girls at 8.

"We've got Flathead on Thursday night, so I think that's going to be a good game for us," O'Rourke said. "I think we're going to come out pretty hard, and it'll be interesting."

Hellgate 2 2 - 4

Glacier 0 0 - 0

HELLGATE - Bryan Nickerson (Garion Holian), 14:00; Zach Affholter (Jonah Brown), 27:00; Holian (Lowell Chandler), 49:00; Matt Harrison, 80:00

Shots on goal - Hel. 19, Gla. 6

Corner kicks - Hel. 8, Gla. 1

Goalie saves - Hel. 2 (Willow Skyrud), Gla. 10 (Kasey Haugan)

Fouls - Hel. 10, Gla. 9

Cards - Hel. 0, Gla. 1 (yellow)