Western AA soccer: Changes for Glacier, Flathead squads
A rainstorm rolled in while Kalispell’s Western AA soccer teams were playing Friday afternoon, but the Flathead Bravettes were the only team that experienced a delay. The Glacier Wolfpack boys finished up just before the second round of rain started later in the day.
Flathead
Girls
The Bravettes return minus last year’s top scorer Skyleigh Thompson but are equipped with new seniors ready to fill the gap.
“Losing a goal scorer liker her, that will hurt, but we have to come in and find a different way,” coach Bledy Doda said.
Now playing for the University of Montana, Thompson’s 37 goals were more than anyone in the state last year. Tessa Smith, who scored 16 goals, also graduated.
That’s some serious ground to make up.
Seniors Ashlynn Whiteman, Rylee Barnes and Grayce Siderius will be tasked with that on a new-look Flathead team. The Bravettes went 7-5-2 last year and ended their season with a first-round loss to Hellgate.
“We are kind of a totally different team from last year but I think we have a more complete team,” Doda noted.
Whiteman, who played defense last year, has moved up top.
“I think she’s going to help there,” Doda said.
Sara Harrison will start in goal again this year and brings experience and leadership to a fairly young team.
“She has a lot of maturity, played on varsity for four years,” Doda said.
Flathead dropped its first game of the season Friday, 8-2 to Helena High.
“It was a good game, we played a very great first half,” Doda said. “We are a young team so we’re trying to build. Ally did a great job in midfield and controlling the ball. She’s the one who created a couple opportunities to score.”
The Bravettes play again today at 9 a.m. against Helena Capital at Kidsports.
Helena High 3 5 — 8
Flathead 1 1 — 2
HH — Madilyn Todorovich 4’
F – Rylee Barnes (Whiteman) 4’
HH — Morgan Hayes 10’
F — Ashlynn Whiteman (Ally Pollan) 30’
HH — Tess Lawlor 30’
HH — Logan Todorovich 32’
HH —L. Todorovich 35’
Full scoring information was not available.
Boys
The Braves finished a dismal 2-11-1 last season. Coach Zach Brenneman is determined they do better this time around.
“I would definitely like to improve upon our record from last year,” he said.
On paper the team looks able to do that — only losing three starters helps a little with that.
“We’ve got a pretty good mix of experience and younger players to step in a play some bigger roles,” Brenneman, in his fourth year at Flathead, said.
Juniors Sage Anderson and Landen Saraceno, senior Dakota Holmes and sophomore Miller Bushnell return.
“It will be fun to get some games in and get a gauge of where we are in the league,” Brenneman said.
Flathead opened its season with a 3-0 loss to Helena High Friday at Kidsports.
“We showed some really good things for the first game this season, Brenneman said. “I think this is a team we can compete with later this season if we fix a few things.”
The Braves have an 11 a.m. game against Helena Capital today, also at Kidsports.
Helena High 0 3 — 0
Flathead 0 0 — 0
HH — Jasper Cook 46’
HH — Kaden Bucar 62’
HH — Lucas Canty 63’
Shots on goal — Helena 13, Flathead 2. Goalie saves — Helena 2, Flathead 10 (Jonathan King). Corner kicks — Helena 5, Flathead 1. Fouls — Helena 10, Flathead 6. Cards — Flathead 2.
Glacier
Boys
Ryan Billiett is taking a laid-back approach to the start of the Wolfpack’s season.
“Staying present, really focused on making each other better, practicing mindfulness, just being calm,” he said.
The Wolfpack ended last season with a tough semifinal loss to Hellgate. Five starters from that team graduated but Billiet has what he says is a roster with the most varsity experience in program history.
“Partially because some of these kids played varsity as freshmen,” Billiet said. “Two years ago, we started subbing a lot.”
The current roster is the class that came in the year after Glacier went to the AA state final in 2017.
“These guys have kind of gone through the bottom of the program essentially and built our culture back,” Billiet said. “Honestly, we’re working on being our best and making sure the people around us are performing at our best.”
Glacier’s home opener against Helena Capital could not have gone better — it was a 7-0 statement win.
Joey Paolini and Jake Ritzdorf each scored two goals. Paolini assisted on both of Ritzdorf’s goals.
A lot of credit to Capital, really played well against us early on, and we made some adjustments,” Billiet said. “A lot of clinical finishing against a great goalkeeper. Great start and everyone came off feeling pretty good.”
Glacier has another home game today, against Helena High at 11, at Glacier High School.
Helena Capital 0 0 — 0
Glacier 0 7 — 0
G — Hunter Lisowski (Sam Ells) 49’
G — Joey Paolini (Ells) 54’
G — Zane Elliott 56’
G — Jake Ritzdorf (Paolini) 67’
G — Ritzdorf (Paolini) 69’
G — Sullivan Coggins (Harrison Sanders) 72’
G — Paolini (Caleb Heil) 78’
Shots on goal — Capital 2, Glacier 13. Goalie saves — Capital 6 (Sean Swingley), Glacier 2 (Jon Pyron). Corner kicks — Capital 2, Glacier 11. Fouls — Capital 4, Glacier 3. Card — Capital 1.
Girls
Glacier had a dream season that ended with a Class AA state title in 2020, but most of that team’s starters have graduated and coach Brenden Byrd stepped down from the program this summer.
Damion Blackburn is the new coach, and with new coaches come new ideas. Blackburn is instituting a new style of play and a mantra to go with it: “Scan, choose, do.”
The idea is to avoid blasting the ball down the field and making it a track meet.
“What I hope for is developing a player that is asked to solve problems,” Blackburn said. “We’re pretty confident with the style of play we want to implement.”
Another notable offseason addition is sophomore Calista Worble, who transferred from Bigfork.
“Calista’s a phenomenal player, there’s no way else to slice it,” Blackburn said. “Very excited to have her.”
The Wolfpack is young — there are just two seniors on the roster.
Blackburn is already making use of his younger players. In the Wolfpack’s home opening 1-0 win against Helena Capital on Friday, there were four freshmen on the field at one time and two of them played over 60 minutes.
Sophomore Reagan Brisendine scored for Glacier, and freshman Carmen Eddy assisted.
It was exciting for the team to get out and compete and allow young players an opportunity to grow,” Blackburn said. “Anytime you can play that many underclassmen and freshmen that’s a good thing for the program.”
Capital 0 0 — 0
Glacier 0 1 — 0
G — Reagan Brisendine (Carmen Eddy) 71’
Shots on goal — Capital 8, Glacier 7. Goalie saves — Capital 6 (Brooklyn Grisco), Glacier 8 (Ella Wilson). Corner kicks — Capital 2, Glacier 11. Fouls — NA. Cards — none.