Wolfpack ready to dethrone Knights in AA championship
Glacier’s boys soccer team has been the talk of the town this week after its upset win in Bozeman on Tuesday launched the Wolfpack to the AA state title game.
“It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Glacier coach Ryan Billiet said. “Some of these guys might not play after this. It’s nice to put a stamp on your playing career with this game. We are just happy and very grateful.”
On the other end is Missoula Hellgate, a team Glacier knows well as a Western AA rival— the teams tied 0-0 in a recent meeting and Hellgate won the other 3-2. The tie game ended an 80-game scoring streak for the Knights.
It was quite a statement from the Wolfpack. If people weren’t talking about them yet, they definitely were after that.
Suffice to say, preparing to play a familiar team is a little different than an unknown one. Billiet has kept things low-key this week.
“Our focus this week was number one recovery, number two, the emphasis on our preparation and we feel really good,” Billiet said. “We’ve just enjoyed every moment this week.”
Playoff wins over Big Sky and Gallatin provided some momentum for Glacier heading into the Bozeman game. The 2-1 win was another statement from a program that has been trying to get back to the chipper since its one appearance in 2017 and have made three straight semifinals in the years after.
“This group’s always been tight and we show that on the field and certainly off the field when it comes to big moments like this,” Billiet said. “Obviously, you hope that it helps carry you through.”
Hellgate has reached the state title game for eight straight years and has won the trophy five times since 2015, including the past two years.
The Knights are led by Lars Thorne-Thomsen, Marcus Anderson and Cameron McNelis, all who have scored in double digits this season.
Glacier has Zane Elliott with 14 goals and 9 assists and Joey Paolini with 10 goals and 9 assists. Hunter Lisowski and Sullvan Coggins have also been contributors — Coggins scored both goals in Glacier’s win in Bozeman.
But sometimes what’s on paper isn’t everything when it comes down to it.
“These guys have just epitomized this program’s culture and they’ve been cultivating it for years. they’ve really done a really good job to put themselves in the position where they’re at to play for a state title,” Billiet said. “And it’s been their dream and they are excited that they get an opportunity to put all that work and effort, dedication, and commitment to work.”
Kickoff for the AA state championship game is 2 p.m. today at Fort Missoula Park.