Glacier boys win first Western AA soccer title

The Wolfpack clinched the Western AA conference title Friday after an 11-3 victory in Butte, halting Missoula Hellgate’s decade-long run as conference champion.

It is also Glacier’s first ever conference title.

“Our conference is very good, so it says a lot just to put ourselves in that position,” Glacier coach Ryan Billet said. “And it's especially difficult to play teams twice in a season.

“I’m really proud. They've had a growth mentality, but we feel there's still opportunity for improvement and we've been seeing that each week, each game. It just continues to help us prepare for playoffs.”

Hunter Lisowski scored a hat trick, Joey Paolini, Liam Ells and Brayden Jenkinson all scored two goals each Friday in Butte. Ells, Bridger Dalla Betta and Hans Coggins each had two assists.

Glacier topped Flathead 6-0 Thursday with goals from Ells, Paolini, Lisowski and Dalla Betta.

The Wolfpack is 13-1-0, their only loss was to Hellgate, who ended up third in Western AA at 10-3-1. Helena Capital is second at 10-2-2.

Glacier has a bye for the first round of Class AA playoffs, which start Tuesday.

The Glacier girls fell 3-2 to Flathead on Thursday and beat Butte 8-2 on Friday. Reagan Brisendine scored four goals against Butte.

“Reagan Brisendine had her usual multiple goal match,” Glacier girls coach Doug Mello said. “Reese Ramey commandeered our stingy defense and Amelia Remley was a workhorse in the midfield for the Pack. We are counting the days for our playoff showdown with Flathead.”

Glacier has the fifth seed in the West and will face Flathead in a first-round game on Tuesday.