Well-prepared Glacier hosts Gallatin in AA soccer quarterfinal

​​If one thing has held true for the Glacier Wolfpack this soccer season, it’s that hard work can take you pretty far.

A 12-1-2 record heading into today’s quarterfinal against Gallatin is evidence of that, but the preparation for big moments goes beyond just this season.

“We’ve been prepping for this,” coach Ryan Billiet said. “These kids have been prepping for this all their lives. Their families have supported them through youth sports. Here we are, and they’ve just been moving through everything with grace and ease.”

It’s long been Billiet’s philosophy to take things one game at a time. Gallatin is a team that Glacier hasn’t yet played in an official capacity aside from a scrimmage this summer. It would be easy to get caught up in the details of what to expect from an unfamiliar opponent but that’s not Billiet’s style. That means no game film, among other things.

“We are solely focused on our team and pieces of the game that we know can set us aside from our opponent, regardless if it’s Gallatin or whoever,” Billiet said. “And so that’s just us elevating our game. Our preparation is to just continue our high level training and bring it all the way into the match.”

Glacier beat Big Sky 1-0 Tuesday in a first round game. A win over Gallatin would send the Wolfpack to its third state semifinal in three years. A trip to the final would be even sweeter for a team that is having the best season in program history.

“You could look at how many wins, losses and ties, but it’s about this opportunity and seeing what you can do, really setting your mind to something and taking it, not letting anything come in front of you,” Billiet said. “There’s been one thing after the next all season long and now here we are, we’re going to be playing against some of the best talent throughout the state.”

Kickoff today is 6 p.m. at Legends Stadium. The lights on the field will be on and the energy will be high.

“We trained the night after that Tuesday match and it was by far the best training of the season,” Billiet said. “I don’t know if it was just because we were under the lights at Legends at 8 o’clock, but just a lot of great feelings walking off that field.”

Class AA quarterfinals

Friday

Girls

2W Missoula Hellgate 2, 3E Billings Senior 0

Boys

1W Missoula Hellgate 2, 4E Billings Senior 1

Saturday

Boys

1 p.m. — 2E Billings West vs. 3W Helena Capital

6 p.m. — 3E Gallatin at 2W Glacier

6 p.m. —1E Bozeman vs. 4W Missoula Sentinel

Girls

1 p.m. —2E Gallatin vs. 3W Missoula Sentinel

1:30 p.m. —1W Helena vs. 4E Bozeman

3 p.m. —1E Billings West vs. 4W Helena Capital