Flathead, Glacier soccer teams square off in crosstown test

Flathead and Glacier’s soccer teams will renew their rivalry today as the two schools meet for this season’s first crosstown game at Glacier High School.

The girls kick off at 10 a.m., followed by the boys at noon, and all four coaches say they expect tight contests.

Glacier’s boys (1-0) haven’t lost to Flathead (0-1) since 2007, the first year after the schools split, and they hold an 8-2 edge in the series, but Glacier coach Ryan O’Rourke said his team will not take Flathead lightly.

“We may have won the last (eight) games, but it’s never been easy,” O’Rourke said. “We always expect that they’re going to push us hard.”

Glacier won 8-0 the last time they faced the Braves, but Flathead coach Chris Putzler said his team looks to be more competitive this time and is anxious to end its losing streak against its crosstown rival.

“The guys are going to be pumped for that,” Putzler said. “They’re looking to break that streak.”

The Braves are coming off a 7-0 loss to defending state champion Missoula Hellgate in their opener Thursday. Glacier beat Missoula Sentinel 1-0 in its opener Wednesday.

Flathead’s girls (1-0) have an 8-1-3 edge in their series against Glacier (0-1). In their most recent meeting, the Bravettes defeated the Wolfpack 2-0 in last year’s playoffs.

“I’m expecting a very hard-fought game,” Flathead coach Scott Warnell said. “Glacier always plays us real hard.”

First-year Glacier coach Brenden Byrd said the key for his team will be stopping Flathead’s junior forward Joey Thiel.

“She’s someone we’re really going to need to contain on that team,” he said.

Thiel had a goal and an assist in Flathead’s 2-1 win over Hellgate Thursday.

Glacier lost 2-0 to Sentinel in its opener Wednesday, but Byrd said he’s not concerned about his team’s offense.

“We made some great adjustments this week and I think we’re ready to put something on the board,” he said.