SOCCER: Crosstown showdown Thursday at Legends Stadium
The lights will be on at Legends Stadium one night early when Flathead and Glacier play a pair of crosstown soccer matches tonight at the usual home of the two schools’ football teams.
The boys game kicks off the action at 5 p.m. with the girls match to follow at approximately 7 p.m.
It’s the second year in a row the schools have opted to move one of their two crosstown battles to Legends, providing stadium amenities like permanent bleachers and a giant scoreboard, albeit with a few on-field drawbacks.
The playing surface at Legends is designed for football, and the dimensions are narrower than on a standard field, including the ones at both Glacier and Kidsports (where the Braves and Bravettes play their home matches). The field at Legends Stadium is also severely crowned in the middle, with significant declines towards each sideline.
Still, both schools have embraced the unique opportunity to play at a facility and in an atmosphere unlike many they will see all season.
Last year on Oct. 3, Flathead swept the two matches at Legends. The boys beat Glacier 1-0 on a Dakota Arndt goal in the 69th minute and the girls shut out the Wolfpack 2-0 behind goals from Jaymee Siler and Ashley Lincoln.
This season, the Glacier girls (2-3-1, 1-2-1 Western AA) have been a potent offensive bunch, scoring at least two goals in all six of their matches. Sophomore Gabbi Dickson and junior Cadie Williams each have four goals and three assists to lead the Pack.
The Bravettes (0-7-0, 0-5-0) are still searching for their first win under new coach Jenni Sipe but snapped a three-match scoreless drought in a 5-1 loss at Missoula Sentinel Tuesday. Zina Loudermilk and Shayenn Thompson are tied for the team lead with two goals each.
Flathead’s boys are unbeaten in their last two matches, picking up a 2-1 road win at Missoula Big Sky on Saturday and drawing even with Missoula Sentinel, 2-2, Tuesday. The Braves (2-4-1, 1-3-1) are led by Hanson Eystad’s four goals.
The Wolfpack (2-3-1, 1-2-1) beat Big Sky 1-0 at home last week and will have had a full week off by the time tonight’s match gets underway. Dyllyn Stabler has three goals and Rohit Tappeta has two goals and two assists to lead a balanced Glacier attack.
The Glacier boys lead the all-time series between the two schools 11-5-2, although the Braves are 3-1-2 in the last six meetings. The Bravettes lead the girls’ series 11-3-4.
The two teams will play their second crosstown matches of the year Oct. 13 at Glacier.