Wolfpack hosts pair of home games for Class AA quarterfinals

Some Kalispell residents might have arrived home Wednesday evening to find the leaves in their yards neatly raked. Mystery solved: It was courtesy of Ryan Billiett and the Glacier Wolfpack boys soccer team.

Billiett is always one for variety, so instead of another hard practice, he decided to take things off the pitch for the day.

“Part of the program experience oftentimes is stepping off the soccer field, getting out and giving back to your community,” Billiett said. “The guys had a great time and got some ice cream.”

The Wolfpack (10-3-2) boys were back on the field Thursday, though, prepping for today’s 11 a.m. Class AA quarterfinal game against Eastern No. 3 seed Billings West (8-5-2) at Legends Field.

Both teams will be going in blind. Because of a conference-only schedule, the eastern and western teams rarely meet.

“The great thing about AA soccer playoffs is that we don’t know anything about the east and they don’t know anything about the west,” Billiett said. “We’re not focused on them at all, we’re focused on our preparation, focused on being in top form by kickoff Saturday. The most important thing is to be healthy and just be ready to go.”

Speaking of health, Glacier was missing some starters during its first round match with Flathead Tuesday. Billiett was only able to dress 17 players. A few of them will be available for today’s game.

West has the fifth leading scorer in the east, Finley LeFevre, who has 10 goals. Two other West players are in the top 10: Quin Pawiroredjo and Owen Guthridge, both with nine goals. The Golden Bears prevailed in penalty kicks (4-3) after tying 1-1 with Gallatin on Tuesday.

Glacier beat Flathead 6-0 Tuesday with goals from Diego Mendoza, Blake Marlow, Parker Creer and Sullivan Coggins.

The Glacier girls face No. 3 Billings Skyview today at 1 p.m.

Coach Brenden Byrd’s squad is in the same boat as Billiett’s when it comes to knowing very little about their opponent.

“It’s a blind game and you just go in with the best team you possibly can bring to the field,” Byrd said. “You don’t try and change your game for a team, you just go out and play the best soccer you can possibly play.”

Skyview beat Billings Senior 2-0 Tuesday with goals by Sydney Robbins, who has seven goals and Ava Roe. The team’s leading scorer, Sydney Robbins, is sixth in conference scoring with nine goals.

Glacier’s 5-0 victory over Helena Capital Tuesday featured goals by leading scorers Madison Becker, Emily Cleveland and Taylor and Reagan Brisendine. Becker leads the state in assists with 11 and has 12 goals.

The MHSA opted to condense the AA playoff format this year due to coronavirus concerns. Byrd is a fan.

“The more soccer the better,” he said.