Flathead Valley to host Class AA, A state title matches in soccer
It will be soccer, soccer and even more soccer this weekend in the Flathead Valley as the high school season comes to a close with title matches in Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish.
Kalispell hosts the Class AA state tournament for boys and girls at Kidsports Complex. It runs Thursday through Saturday.
The Glacier girls (5-7-1) will face Bozeman (11-1-0) on Thursday at noon on Field 3 in a first-round match. Glacier carries the fourth seed from the Western Division into this event while Bozeman is the top seed from the Eastern.
Glacier had to beat rival Flathead 2-1 in a play-in match last week to advance. Bozeman earned an automatic bye to state by winning the Eastern Division regular-season title.
The Billings Central girls (14-0-0) travel to Columbia Falls (12-1-1) for a championship match on Saturday. Billings Central will be going for its fifth straight Class A title.
The Columbia Falls Wildkats, on the other hand, are seeking their second in school history. They won their first in 2004.
The Whitefish boys (14-0-0) will be looking to defend their Class A crown, also on Saturday, at Smith Fields versus Billings Central (13-1-0).
Whitefish also won state titles in 2006 and 2007.
And if that wasn’t enough, football playoff actions begins for Class A, B and C this weekend.
In Class A, Columbia Falls (4-4 overall, 2-2 Northwestern) travels to Anaconda (6-3, 4-1 Southwestern).
Northwestern A champion and third-ranked Polson (8-0, 4-0) has a first-round bye.
District 7B champion and No. 8 ranked Bigfork (7-1, 4-0) is home for the first round versus Choteau. District 7B runner-up Eureka (3-5, 3-1) travels to Manhattan/Manhattan Christian.
Class AA regular-season football action ends Friday night with Glacier (7-2) looking to improve its upcoming playoff positioning at Missoula Big Sky (4-5). Flathead (0-9) completes its season at home versus Missoula Hellgate (1-8).
Soccer
Class AA
Thursday-Saturday
Kidsports Complex
Girls
First Round Games
Thursday
Noon — Helena vs. Billings Skyview; Helena Capital vs. Billings Senior; Bozeman vs. Glacier; Great Falls C.M. Russell vs. Missoula Sentinel
Boys
First Round Games
Thursday
2:30 p.m. — Helena vs. Billings West; Missoula Big Sky vs. Billings Senior; Bozeman vs. Missoula Sentinel; Great Falls C.M. Russell vs. Missoula Hellgate
Class A
Championship
Girls
11 a.m. — Billings Central at Columbia Falls
Boys
1:30 p.m. — Billings Central at Whitefish
Football
Class A
First Round
Livingston, Billings Central, Polson and Dillon have byes
Friday or Saturday
Columbia Falls at Anaconda; Butte Central at Frenchtown; Havre at Laurel; Hardin at Belgrade
Class B
First Round
Friday or Saturday
Shepherd at Forsyth; Choteau at Bigfork; Townsend at Malta/Whitewater/Saco; Florence/Carlton at Red Lodge; Cut Bank at Loyola Sacred Heart; Eureka at Manhattan/Manhattan Christian; Glasgow/Hinsdale/Nashua at Fairfield; Columbus at Baker/Plevna.
Class C 8-Man
First Round
Friday or Saturday
Drummond at Chester/Joplin/Inverness; White Sulphur Springs at Wibaux County; Centerville at Superior; Culbertson/Bainville at Broadview/Lavina; Twins Bridges at Fairview; Victor at Chinook; Circle at Ennis; Great Falls Central Catholic at Charlo
Class C 6-Man
First Round
Friday or Saturday
Lima at Geraldine/Highwood; Reed Point/Rapelje at Hysham; Augusta at Hot Springs; Richey/Lambert at Hobson/Moore/Judith Gap; Custer/Melstone at Westby/Grenora; Lone Peak at Big Sandy; Terry at Bridger; Valier at Alberton