Wolfpack, Bravettes aim for West's best
Girls soccer is on the cusp of breaking out in Kalispell, with both Flathead and Glacier confident their teams can hang with the best of the West in 2014.
Flathead, which finished fifth in the state last season, is looking to build off another strong performance last season. The Bravettes bring back an experienced team that is energized after last season’s postseason performance that saw them beat Missoula Hellgate and Billings Skyview.
“They kind of took last year’s successes and have continued to build,” Flathead coach Cory Wilson said.
“They recognize that year’s over. They’re trying to set the bar a little higher, and compete every day.”
All-conference midfielder Stephanie Wilson returns to lead the Bravettes along with senior defender Monica White, who missed part of last season with an injury. Zoe Zander, who had eight shutouts last season in goal, will return to anchor a strong back end for Flathead.
“Our strength is definitely in the back and in the middle of the field,” Wilson said. “We’ll kind of figure things out from there and continue to improve at the front end.”
Glacier was bounced from the playoffs in a play-in game last season after impressing in the postseason in 2012. Despite graduating a pair of all-state players last season, the Wolfpack believes it can be better this fall.
“We’re starting to see the tradition come through,” Glacier coach Brenden Byrd said. “The girls are no longer the underdogs. They’re ready to play.”
Looking to replace goal production from a season ago, Glacier has found an answer in a field of young players. Along with senior all-conference returners Maddi Paulson and Ally Staats and juniors Carly McDonald, Alysha Smith, Mckayle Dennehy and Amy Braig, the Wolfpack has seen early production from a pair of freshmen.
Cadie Williams has scored three goals and an assist in the first three games and Ellie Stevens has three assists and a goal, each leading the team.
“It helps a lot that we have a strong freshman class,” Byrd said. “Those juniors (seven on the team this season) are thinking we could be good for a couple of years.”
Returning as many players as it has, the Wolfpack is hoping this season can find it back in the playoffs and among the league leaders in the West.
“We can’t let our guard down at any time throughout the season,” Byrd said. “We just have to play our best game every game.”
Class A
Whitefish Bulldogs
(12-3 in 2013)
The Bulldogs return five all-conference players to a team that finished second in the state last season to perennial powerhouse Billings Central. In a Northwestern A conference that looks to be stacked with talent, Whitefish is looking once again to come out on top.
“We have great positive energy and a lot of young players as well,” Whitefish coach Wendy Farrens said.
“It’s always nice to have experience on the team as well as new talent.”
Seniors Grace Kurtz and Jess Baldonado and juniors Cassidy Grady and Anna Peterson lead a talented group of 11 returning letterwinners with nine underclassmen on the roster, including all-conference sophomores Haley Nicholson, Julia Houston and Melissa Pollard. Sophomore Kess Nelson takes over in goal and freshman Pixie Moore has made an early impact on the defensive line.
“We have a lot of depth,” Farrens said. “We’re very versatile.”
Columbia Falls Wildkats (7-3-3)
The Wildkats have battled rival Whitefish for the title of best in the North the last four years, to on and off results. After finishing runner-up two seasons ago, Columbia Falls saw the Bulldogs take that title last season, losing in the quarterfinals to Hamilton.
With a pair of all-state players back on a roster returning 16 players from a season ago, Columbia Falls looks ripe to fight for a share of the top spot.
Seniors Meagan Seliger and Lindsay Strouse and junior Tavia Bechtel look to lead the Kats along with juniors Sydney Grilley, Ellie Johnson and Lexi Strouse.
“The first thing we want to do is get the conference back,” Columbia Falls coach Greg Trennery said.
Columbia Falls will first have to wade through a brutal opening schedule, against the Eastern conference: Belgrade, Livingston, six-time defending state champion Billings Central and Laurel, the latter two at home.
“I would like to do better out of that four,” Trennery said. “We’re not taking them lightly.”
Bigfork Valkyries (2-10)
The Valkyries opened the season with a six-goal effort against Stevensville, more than the scored all last season.
The effort was powered by a pair of seniors, forward Megan Pancoast and defender Grace Rehbein, and a large group of youngsters, including five starting freshmen.
“All those new players have years of experience playing in [youth leagues],” Bigfork coach Michael Marchetti said.
Georgia Cleasby, a freshman transfer from Tennessee, and junior Mattie McAnally scored in the opener along with two from “powerhouse talent” Pancoast. Freshmen Catelyn Henion, Haile Norred, Ceciley Taylor and Madison Gardner have also made an impact in the early season for a young team looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
Polson Pirates (6-6-1)
Polson is one of a few teams in conference that enters the season relying on a large and talented group of underclassmen. The Pirates are looking to ride that talent deeper in the playoffs than the first round, after a falling in their opening game of the postseason two of the last three years.
Thanks to a large club program on the south end of Flathead Lake, the Pirates are looking like a contender in the North, and according to a few coaches, could challenge for the crown.
All-state senior Sarah Howell returns to the team along with all-conference senior Linnea Madsen and sophomore Olivia Hewston.
Libby Loggers (1-11)
With all-conference senior Callan Peel heading the charge, the Loggers are looking to improve on a season that saw just one win a year ago.
Goalkeeper Abby Ennenga and midfielder Annie Bergett for a team that is one of the most experienced in the conference.