Soccer: Glacier boys beat defending state champs
HELENA - The temperature was soaring and the competition was stiff, but the Glacier Wolfpack found a way to win against the defending Class AA state soccer champion Helena Bengals Saturday.
Matt Peters scored twice, including a game-winning goal in the 72nd minute, as the Wolfpack bested the undefeated Bengals 3-2.
"It was a very courageous performance," said Glacier coach Ryan O'Rourke.
"All of the players are to be commended for their work today."
Peters' first goal came in the sixth minute and gave Glacier a 1-0 lead that held through halftime.
Helena's Dylan Allen scored two goals early in the second half to put the Bengals ahead 2-1. That's when Glacier's Joe Siderius responded with a goal of his own in the 61st minute to tie things up.
Powered in part by seniors Nate Higgins, Siderius and junior Jake Lockwood, Glacier held on and Peters netted the tie-breaking goal.
"Those guys played extended shifts in terms of it just being so hot out there," O'Rourke said.
"We've been getting better every game," O'Rourke added.
"We wanted to go out and play a tough game against Helena High. The guys just refused to quit today, which is great to see from a coach's perspective."
Glacier (2-0-2) plays at Missoula Hellgate on Thursday.
Glacier 1 2 - 3
Helena 0 2 - 2
GLACIER - Matt Peters (Joe Siderius), 6:00; Siderius, 61:00; M. Peters (Josiah Bumgarner), 72:00
HELENA - Dylan Allen (Andrew Mitchell), 41:00; Allen (Jesse Bostrom), 51:00.
Shots - Glacier 12, Helena 9
Corners - Glacier 1, Helena 1
Saves - Glacier 8 (Sean Peters), Helena 9 (Jaden Maharg).
Helena Capital 2, Flathead 0
HELENA - Sickness and absences forced Flathead to start a new back line of defenders in a loss to Capital.
The Braves (0-4-0) fought to a halftime tie but lost after Helena scored in the 49th and 75th minutes.
"All things considered, defensively we did pretty good," said Flathead coach Chris Putzler.
"We still need to work on our attack and create more opportunities up front."
Putzler commended the play of his goalie Chris Cronk, who made nine stops.
"He made some incredible saves today," Putzler said.
Andrew Wilson and Monte White also played well on defense.
"They had a big impact out there," he said.
Flathead plays next at Missoula Sentinel Tuesday, 3 p.m.
Flathead 0 0 - 0
Capital 0 2 - 2
CAPITAL - Cameron Betancourt (Trevor Snyder),49:00; Caleb Sparks (Kyle Nickol), 75:00
Shots - Flathead 5, Capital 15
Corners - Flathead 1, Capital 7
Goalie Saves - Flathead 9 (Chris Cronk), Capital 2 (Connor Fitzpatrick).
Cards - Flathead, 2 yellows; Capital, 1 yellow
Stillwater 6,
Helena Christian 0
KALISPELL - Ryan Koch and Zane Kloeckl both scored two goals to help Stillwater blank Helena Christian School on the final day of the Cougar Classic at SCS.
Zane Kloeckl also had an assist.
Zach Walder provided a goal and an assist for the Cougars.
"The guys passed well and played well as a team today," SCS coach Tim Anderson said.
"They played with great purpose and determination."
Stillwater (5-2 and 1-0) hosts Stevensville on Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Helena Christian 0 0 - 0
Stillwater Christian 2 4 - 6
STILLWATER CHRISTIAN - Own goal, 5:00; Ryan Koch (Zane Kloeckl), 25:00; Koch, 50:00; Zach Waldher (Derek Vander Ark), 65:00; Kloeckl, 60:00; Kloeckl (Waldher), 68:00.
Shots on goal - Helena 3, Stillwater 16
Corner kicks - Helena 0, Stillwater 6
Goalie saves - Helena 10 (NA), Stillwater 3 (Trevor Holladay)
Fouls - NA
Cards - NA
Stillwater (5-2 and 1-0) hosts Stevensville on Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Polson 1, Livingston 0
POLSON - The Pirates managed just one goal on 12 shots, but it was all they needed.
Polson topped Livingston behind James Larson's goal in the 56th minute. Jon Murphy had the assist.
The Pirates' defense allowed just six shots on goal. Polson's goalie Peregrine Frissell racked up four saves.
Polson hosts Whitefish on Tuesday, 3 p.m., in a Northern A league match.
Livingston 0 0 - 0
Polson 0 1 - 1
POLSON - James Larson (Jon Murphy), 56:00.
Shots - Livingston 6, Polson 12
Goalie saves - Livingston 5 (Kyle Lavendar), Polson 4 (Peregrine Frissell)
Corners - Livingston 2, Polson 0
Fouls - Livingston 7, Polson 9
Cards - None
Girls
Helena 3, Glacier 2
HELENA - Glacier battled throughout the match but Helena walked away with the win after a tie-breaking goal by Callie Kanthack.
The Wolfpack (0-3-1) took an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute on a goal by Sara Burch.
Helena followed in the 24th with a goal by Kanthack to tie things up.
The Bengals went ahead 2-1 with a penalty kick early in the second half.
Glacier locked the game up at 2-2 with a goal by Anna Deleray in the 70th minute. Abretia Crandell had the assist.
Kanthack kicked the game-winning goal for Helena in the 75th minute.
Both teams had 14 shots on goal.
Glacier coach Paul Holmgren said he was happy with his team's effort.
"Our defense just had a stellar game all the way across," he said.
"It was a really tight game back and forth."
"We've really made some progress," he added.
Glacier plays host to Missoula Hellgate Thursday, 5 p.m.
Glacier 1 1 - 2 Helena 1 2 - 3
GLACIER - Sara Burch, 9:00; Anna Deleray (Abretia Crandell), 70:00.
HELENA - Callie Kanthack, 24:00; Meaghan Upham, 56:00 PK; Kanthack (Shelby Pugh), 75:00.
Shots - Glacier 14, Helena 14
Saves - Glacier 10(Shaniya Carey), Helena 10 (Taelar Therriault)
Corners - Glacier 5, Helena 2
Fouls - Glacier 6, Helena 7
Cards - Helena, 1 yellow
Helena Capital 1, Flathead 0
HELENA - Flathead fell to Capital after a goal by Katie Wilkins in the 55th minute. Kayla Damuth provided the assist.
Capital managed 12 shots on goal while Flathead had 11.
Payton Pietron made seven saves for the Bravettes.
Capital's goalkeeper Kyra Dorvall had six stops.
Flathead plays at Missoula Sentinel on Tuesday, 5 p.m.
Flathead 0 0 - 0
Capital 0 1 - 1
CAPITAL - Katie Wilkins (Kayla Damuth), 55:00.
Shots - Flathead 11, Capital 12
Corners - Flathead 0, Capital 3
Saves - Flathead 7 (Payton Pietron), Capital 6 (Kyra Dorvall).
Livingston 6, Polson 2
POLSON - Livingston scored five goals in the first half and stayed in control the entire game to top Polson 6-2.
Polson's Sarah Howell scored for the Lady Pirates in the first half. Annie Vetters kicked in Polson's second goal.
Livingston was led by Emily Fochs who racked up two goals and an assist.
Livingston out-shot Polson 11 to 9.
Polson hosts Whitefish on Tuesday, 5 p.m., in a Northern A league match.
Livingston 5 1 - 6
Polson 1 1 - 2
LIVINGSTON - Emily Fochs; Haley Dowdell (Fochs); Angelica Silverstone; Julia Deen; Angeline Gelderloos (Deen); Fochs.
POLSON - Sarah Howell (Madeline Hewston); Annie Venters.
Shots - Livingston 11, Polson 9.
Goalie saves - Livingston 6 (Olga Mogen, Mia Stewart), Polson 8 (Shgannon McGinnis 5, Monica Cleveland 3)
Corners - Livingston 3, Polson 4.
Fouls - Livingston 7, Polson 2.
Cards - none