Soccer roundup: Sentinel trips Glacier; Polson, Bigfork split
<p>Glacier sophomore forward Olivia Malchi (17) battles for position with a Missoula Sentinel defender Tuesday evening during Glacier's home match. </p>
<p>Glacier senior Connor Brandon (10) jumps over the tackle attempt by a Missoula Sentinel defender Tuesday evening during Glacier's home match.</p>
It was too much Syd Steele and a speedy Missoula Sentinel squad spoiling the Class AA season soccer opener for Glacier High School’s girls squad on Tuesday at Glacier.
Steele scored a hat trick and Libby Walker assisted on a goal and also scored once as the Spartans prevailed 4-2.
“Sentinel is extremely fast, they go to the goal,” Glacier coach Brenden Byrd said.
“I was very happy with (the second half effort). We just let down and forgot our game a little bit.”
Kendall Haliburton scored once in each half for Glacier.
Sentinel outshot Glacier on goal 22-12.
Amy Braig had 15 keeper saves for Glacier.
Glacier is back in action Thursday versus Flathead at Kidsports Complex, 4 p.m.
Missoula Sentinel 2 2 — 4
Glacier 1 1 — 2
SENTINEL — Syd Steele, 2:00; Steele (Libby Walker), 26:00; Walker (Brittany Delridge), 56:00; Steele (Emma Caldwell), 78:00.
GLACIER — Kendall Haliburton (Olivia Malchi), 18:00; Haliburton, 78:00.
Shots on goal — Sentinel 22, Glacier 12; Corner kicks — Sentinel 4, Glacier 0; Goalie saves — Sentinel 9 (Jessica Henning), Glacier 15 (Amy Braig); Fouls — Sentinel 2, Glacier 3; Cards — None.
Boys
Sentinel 4, Glacier 1
Sentinel set the tone early, scoring in the second minute, added another at 18 minutes and led at the half 3-1.
Glacier found the net at 35 minutes on a goal by Carsen Linrude, but Todd Thayer scored his second goal of the first half three minutes later.
Sentinel added a goal in the second half.
“They caught us off guard,” Glacier coach Cody Fierro said.
“The game started out fast-paced, quick. We didn’t follow through with our game plan and spent the rest of the first half trying to recover.”
Fierro said Glacier’s play improved in the second half.
“We started putting passes together,” he said.
“Finished strong ... figured out our flaws and played our own game.”
Glacier is back in action Thursday, 6 p.m., versus Flathead at Kidsports Complex.
Missoula Sentinel 3 1 — 4
Glacier 1 0 — 1
SENTINEL — Adam Mickelson, 2:47; Todd Thayer, 18:46; Thayer, 38:00; Dylan Leadbetter, 47:13.
GLACIER — Carsen Linrude (Brandon Purdy), 35:00.
Shots on goal — Sentinel 8, Glacier 4; Corner kicks — Sentinel 3, Glacier 3; Goalie saves — Sentinel 4 (Kai Block), Glacier — 8 (Lonnie Sherman); Fouls — Sentinel NA; Glacier NA; Card — one yellow, Sentinel (Mickelson).
Bigfork, Polson split matches
POLSON — Kyle Thomson netted two goals, one in each half, and Tyler Zavala and Jorge Zavala also scored as Bigfork topped Polson 4-1 in the opener for both schools.
Bigfork never trailed and broke a 1-1 tie with Thomson’s first goal at 21 minutes.
Jonah Kasnitz scored for Polson at the 17-minute mark.
In the girls match, Polson’s Sarah Howell scored four goals and assisted on another as the Pirates blanked the Valkyires 8-0.
Polson scored four times in each half.
Keely Clairmont added two goals for Polson.
Bigfork plays at Frenchtown on Thursday, while Polson hosts Belgrade on Friday.
Boys
Bigfork 2 2 — 4
Polson 1 0 — 1
BIGFORK — Tyler Zavala, 13:00; Kyle Thomson, 21:00; Jorge Zavala (Thomson), 71:00; Thomson, 78:00
POLSON — Jonah Kasnitz (Sam Heutmaker), 17:00
Shots on goal — Bigfork 10, Polson 6; Corner kicks — Bigfork 8, Polson 0; Goalie saves — Bigfork 5 (Dillon Hilling), Polson 6 (Trevor Basler); Fouls — Bigfork 6, Polson 11; Cards — None.
Girls
Bigfork 0 0 — 0
Polson 4 4 — 8
POLSON — Keely Clairmont, 15:00; Sarah Howell, 16:00; Howell (Tiara Duford), 30:00; Howell, 37:00; Ebba Hakanssun (Clairmont), 51:00; Clairmont (Hakanssun), 56:00; Linnea Madsen (Howell), 58:00; Howell, 60:00.
Shots on goal – Bigfork 7, Polson 2; Corner kicks – Bigfork 1, Polson 2; Goalie saves – Bigfork (Celeste Rehbein 7), Polson (Monica Cleveland 6); Total fouls – Bigfork 1, Polson 3; Cards — None. Yellow cards – None.