Glacier girls win crosstown 1-0
Glacier's Calista Wroble (2) celebrates with teammates after her goal in the second half against Flathead at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
The Glacier boys soccer team has a moment of silence before their game with Flathead in memory of a Glacier student-athlete who took his life last week. Many players from each team wrote messages on their legs or wore ribbons for suicide awareness. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
The Flathead boys soccer team has a moment of silence before their game with Glacier in memory of a Glacier student-athlete who took his life last week. Many players from each team wrote messages on their legs or wore ribbons for suicide awareness. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Reese Ramey (23) pushes the ball upfield with Flathead's Ashlynn Whiteman (10) in pursuit in the first half at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Jake Ritzdorf (18) pushes the ball upfield in the first half against Flathead at Legends Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Calista Wroble was denied a goal on a penalty kick try, so when she took a free kick a few minutes later, she made that one count to give Glacier a 1-0 win over Flathead in the schools’ first crosstown meeting of the season at Legends Stadium on Thursday.
Wroble’s goal in the 61st minute was her third of the season and the Wolfpack improved to 3-2.
“It was great to see her get the opportunity to put one in the back of the net,” first-year Glacier girls’ coach Damion Blackburn said. “I knew it would be competitive anytime it's a crosstown game, it's my first one … I still thought we did a good job of challenging them and creating a lot of chances. So I'm happy.”
Flathead goalkeeper Sara Harrison was the one who denied Wroble’s PK with a diving save that tipped the ball off her fingers. Senior forward Ashlynn Whiteman had some of Flathead’s best scoring chances of the night but the offense was stymied by Glacier’s defense.
The Bravettes are now 1-5.
“I believe we played great soccer, we dominated all the game,” Flathead coach Bledy Doda said. “We have to accept it and we have to move on. I’m so proud of the girls, we just couldn’t find a goal tonight.”
But the night wasn't about just soccer — student sections from both schools combined in a show of unity and support in memory of a Glacier student-athlete who took his life last week. There was a moment of silence before each game and yellow ribbons were worn by many for suicide awareness.
“It was just a great night,” Glacier boys coach Ryan Billiet said. “Both schools coming together like that... I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. Just a really cool atmosphere and kind of a special opportunity to show the community we can come together as one. I was really grateful to be a part of it.”
Billiet’s squad beat Flathead 6-0. Six different players scored, including the Wolfpack’s leading scorer, sophomore Joey Paolini.
Zane Elliott also had a goal and an assist for 5-1 Glacier, which is second in Western AA behind 6-0 Missoula Hellgate, the only team to beat the Wolfpack this season .
Flathead goalie Jonathan King had a busy night, stopping 10 shots. Flathead falls to 1-5.
Girls
Glacier 0 1 — 1
Flathead 0 0 — 0
G — Calista Wroble 61:00
Shots — Glacier 10, Flathead 19. Corner kicks — Glacier 4, Flathead 2. Fouls — Glacier 7, Flathead 11. Cards — Flathead 1.
Boys
Glacier 3 3 — 6
Flathead 0 0 — 0
G — Zane Elliott (Hunter Lisowski) 8:00
G — Joey Paolini (Liam Ells) 13:00
G — Bridger Dalla Betta (Elliott) 23:00
G — Lisowski (Sullivan Coggins) 42:00
G — Harrison Sanders 66:00
G — Brighton Kelsey 79:00
Shots — Glacier 22, Flathead 2. Goalie saves — Glacier 2 (John Pyron), Flathead 10 (Jonathan King) 10. Corner kicks — Glacier 16, Flathead 1.