Pack shuts out Braves in season opener
Glacier’s Hunter Lisowski (6) and Campbell Smith (12) celebrate after Lisowski’s first-half goal against Flathead during crosstown soccer at Legends Stadium on Thursday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier’s Taylor Brisendine (23) and Flathead’s Ellie Hawes (5) battle for possession during crosstown soccer at Legends Stadium on Thursday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Braden Nitschelm and Sullivan Coggins each scored two goals as the Glacier Wolfpack blanked the Flathead Braves 6-0 in the Class AA soccer season opener for both teams at Legends Stadium on Thursday.
“We just came out and really played well from the whistle,” Glacier coach Ryan Billiet said. “We did all the things that we’ve been preparing to do.”
Nitschelm scored in the 19th and 52nd minutes; his first goal was unassisted. He scored nine goals for the Wolfpack in 2019.
Coggins’ goals were at 14:00 and 38. Zane Elliott, who scored 12 goals last season, assisted on the first and scored an unassisted goal with two minutes left to play.
“We linked up well, we had really good movement,” Billiet said. “The defenders just kept really good structure. They kept the ball and swung the ball from side to side confidently.”
Glacier used 11 substitutes during the game. Billiet said no starters were on the field in the last 18 minutes of the game.
“It was good just to give everyone the experience to play varsity minutes,” Billiet said. “Everyone came off the field feeling good.”
Next up for Glacier is hosting Missoula Hellgate at noon on Saturday. The Glacier girls, who were leading the Flathead Bravettes 3-0 in the second half as of press time, play at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Flathead heads to Butte on Saturday, where the boys will play at noon and the girls at 10 a.m.
Flathead 0 0 — 0
Glacier 4 2 — 6
G - Sullivan Coggins (Zane Elliott) 14:00
G - Braden Nitschelm (unassisted) 19:00
G - Hunter Lisowski (Joey Paolini) 32:00
G- Coggins (unassisted) 38:00
G - Nitschelm (Paolini) 52:00
G - Elliott (unassisted) 58:00
Shots on goal — Glacier 18, Flathead n/a; Goalie saves — Flathead 14, Glacier n/a; Corner kicks — Glacier 4, Flathead 0; Fouls— Flathead 3, Glacier 3; Cards — None.
