Pair of wins for Wolfpack soccer in AA quarterfinals
The Glacier Wolfpack girls soccer team continued their historic season with a 3-2 overtime win against No. 4 C.M. Russell on Saturday at Glacier High School in a Class AA quarterfinal game.
Glacier moves on to the semifinals on Tuesday.
“I could not be more impressed with our gritty effort to come away with a win today,” Glacier coach Brenden Byrd said. “These girls showed heart and they showed passion. They left it all out on the field today.”
Emily Cleveland scored in the 70th minute to give the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead.
CMR tied it just before the end of regulation, sending it to overtime.
In overtime, Alma Patrick and Madison Becker scored at 94:00 and 95:00 and Glacier seemed securely in the lead during extra time with a two-goal cushion.
Then CMR’s Emily Funseth broke free midfield and kicked a long ball past Glacier keeper Sophie Smith right after Becker’s goal but Glacier hung on to win.
“CMR never once let down and we had to work extremely hard for our win today,” Byrd said.
Glacier (10-4-1) will host Billings West (8-3-3) at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Glacier High School.
CMR 0 1 1 — 2
Glacier 0 1 2 — 3
G — Emily Cleveland (free kick) 70:00
CMR — own goal 77:00
OT
G — Alma Patrick (Cleveland) 94:00
G — Madison Becker 95:00
CMR — Emily Funseth 95:00
Shots on goal — CMR 6, Glacier 23; Goalie saves — CMR 20 (Robin Blair), Glacier 4 (Sophie Smith); Corner kicks — CMR 0, Glacier 3; Fouls — CMR 11, Glacier 13; Cards — CMR 1.
Boys
Glacier 2, Billings Senior 0
BILLINGS — A venue and time change and cold, snowy weather didn’t faze the Glacier Wolfpack in their AA quarterfinal game at Billings Senior.
In fact, Glacier coach Ryan Billiet preferred it.
“It was awesome,” Billiet said.
The game time was moved up to 12:30 p.m. and took place at Daylis Stadium instead of Amend Park in Billings.
There were several inches of snow on the turf and it kept falling throughout the game.
“We played a complete game,” Billiet said. “Our team was very well organized and structured in the back, pressed relentlessly in the midfield and created great goal scoring opportunities in the final third. The culture and chemistry has been the difference for us, and we continue to improve.”
Scoreless through the first half, Diego Mendoza found the back of the net at 70:00 and Eli Mildren added another in the 79th minute.
Zane Elliot assisted on both goals.
“We did what we could with the situation,” Mildren, a sophomore defender, said. “We were ready to play in all conditions and I think that was difference. “
Glacier (8-4-4) will play Tuesday in the AA semifinal at 3:30 p.m. against undefeated Missoula Hellgate (12-0-3).
“We’ve been facing adversity and challenges all throughout the season and today goes to show that nothing can stop us from getting a win when we work hard for it,” senior captain Micah Heil said.
Glacier 0 2 — 2
Billings Senior 0 0 — 0
G — Diego Mendoza (Zane Elliot) 70:00
G — Eli Mildren (Elliot) 79:00
Shots on goal — Glacier 10, Senior 7; Goalie saves — Glacier 6, Senior 6; Corner kicks — Glacier 5, Senior 2; Fouls — Glacier 5, Senior 8; Cards — None.