Soccer Games start Saturday in Whitefish

The Daily Inter Lake

Twenty-eight teams from three states and Canada will be in the Flathead Valley this weekend for the 27th annual Whitefish Soccer Games.

Twelve teams are entered in both the men's and women's divisions with four teams playing in the men's senior division.

All the action is set for the fields at Grouse Mountain Lodge and Smith Fields.

Play runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Action resumes Sunday at 8:30 a.m. The men's championship game will be played at 2:30 p.m. that day with the women's title match at 4. The men's senior championship match will also be played at 2:30. Those three matches will take place at Grouse Mountain.

Tournament organizer Colin Sellwood said this event draws high-quality play.

Teams competing are from Montana, Idaho, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta.

A team from Spokane - FC Bosnia, is a new entrant.

Three teams are coming from Calgary. On the state level, Missoula, Billings and Bozeman will have a team playing.

There will be at least one local team in each division.

The Flathead Rapids, coached by O'Brien Byrd, will play twice on Saturday - 9 a.m. vs. the Calgary Red Devils at Smith Fields; and 3 p.m. vs. Missoula at Grouse Mountain.

The FVCC soccer team will play Saturday at noon vs. Spokane at Smith Fields.

The Express, coached by Lini Reading, will face the Wannabees at Smith Fields on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.