Prep Soccer: Rivalry rematch
TODAY: At Legends Stadium, Glacier Wolfpack boys (5-2) vs. Flathead Braves (1-6), 5:30 p.m.; Glacier Wolfpack girls (4-3) vs. Flathead Bravettes (1-2-4), 7:30 p.m.
PRIMETIME: "It's a primetime game," Glacier boys coach Ryan O'Rourke said of tonight's rivalry matchup. "Flathead's a very tough and competitive team. (Flathead head coach Chris Putzler) does a great job with those guys and gets them ready to go. It's their home game and we've beaten them the last three times so I know they want to take it to us."
On the girls side, Flathead is looking to avenge their first-ever crosstown loss from earlier this season. "We're not doing anything differently to prepare for Glacier," Flathead coach Scott Warnell said. "We know they're a strong team and they're a very well-rounded team, all the way from their goalie to their forwards. If we go out and play our game I think we'll play very competitive."
WHAT'S AT STAKE: The AA playoffs are just under three weeks away and there's only four games left after today. Currently, the Glacier boys are in second place in the West, while Flathead sits in a tie for sixth.
"We would like to finish second in the conference at least and it's certainly in our control to do that," O'Rourke said.
Meanwhile, the Glacier girls are fourth place and Flathead holds fifth in the West. As it stands now, the girls would meet for the second year in a row in the playoffs.
"Right now, with the way the standings are it's pretty much wide open from one through seven. Whoever comes to play each day and performs the best, they have a chance to host (a playoff game)," Warnell said. "We have the ability to be in the top four I believe."
TOP TARGETS: Glacier's Maddey Frey and Flathead's Chelsea Shuman are two of the top scorers in the West with five goals apiece.
HUGHES AND CO.: This season, goal keeper Patty Hughes and the Wolfpack girls defense has not allowed more than one goal per game.
CROSSTOWN HISTORY: Glacier earned a home sweep against Flathead in the last meeting thanks to a 2-1 victory in the girls game and a 2-0 decision in the boys. Flathead still owns an overall lead in the girls series with a 5-1 record, while the Glacier boys have taken three straight and lead 3-2.
SERIES LEADERS: Frey, a senior forward, is tied for the scoring lead in the girls crosstown series with seven total goals. Flathead graduates Meghan O'Connell and Heidi Windauer have seven also. On the boys side, Glacier senior Ron Howell is the series leading-scorer with three goals.