Glacier falls to Billings West in PKs
Glacier's Joey Paolini (7) and Billings West goalkeeper Brennen Ellis (0) battle for a ball off a high bounce in the second half at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Liam Ells (6) scores in the overtime round of penalty kicks against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Elias Holly (18) shoots in the second half against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Hans Coggins (11) shoots in the first half against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Liam Ells (6) pushes the ball upfield against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Caleb Brannan (8) battles for possession with Billings West's Martin Smith (8) at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Hunter Lisowski (10) shoots in the first half against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Joey Paolini (7) battles for a header with Billings West's Calvin Paczkowski (15) in the first half at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Caleb Brannan (8) scores in the overtime round of penalty kicks against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Elias Holly (18) scores in the overtime round of penalty kicks against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Hunter Lisowski (10) scores in the overtime round of penalty kicks against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier celebrates with Hans Coggins (11, right) after his goal on a free kick in the second half against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Hunter Lisowski (10) screens Billings West goalkeeper Brennen Ellis (0) on Hans Coggins' goal off a free kick in the waning moments of the second half against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Bridger Dalla Betta (15) scores in the overtime round of penalty kicks against Billings West at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
After 100 minutes of play and 17 penalty kicks, the Billings West Golden Bears earned a 2-1 victory over the Glacier Wolfpack in a Class AA soccer quarterfinal Friday night at Legends Stadium.
“An amazing journey it was,” Glacier coach Ryan Billiet said. “I think it just always brings you back to the core values, and just surrounding yourself with great people and they'll continue to do that. When things like this happen — these are great lessons moving forward, just taking care of one another and learning how we respond and how we move forward better. I think once they kind of reflect back on it, they're all gonna be better men because of tonight.”
Things were tight in the first half but broke open in the 48th minute when Caden Haff scored to give West a 1-0 lead.
Glacier kept pushing and it paid off with Hans Coggins' tying goal from a free kick in the 78th minute that sent the game to overtime.
After two 10-minute periods of OT, in which Glacier mostly controlled play, it was still deadlocked at 1-1 and penalty kicks were required to settle things. In the ninth round of kicks, Glacier’s last shooter missed his attempt and West’s Aidan Benton made his shot to help the Golden Bears advance to face Missoula Hellgate in the state semifinals.
“That just shows how much character these guys had and keeping strong mental fortitude, and just continuing to find a way,” Billiet said. “Goals didn't come easy.”
It was a heartbreaking end to the season for the Wolfpack, who won the Western AA conference title, becoming the first team not named Hellgate in 10 years to win the conference.
“We're so thankful for the soccer community to come out and watch that type of match and see what's possible in our community,” Billiet said. “To see the level of soccer that was being played — it's just spectacular.”
Billings West 0 1 0 0 (9)* — 2
Glacier 0 1 0 0 (8)* — 1
*penalty kicks
BW — Caden Haff 48:00
G — Hans Coggins 78:00
Shots — BW 2, Glacier 6. Goalie saves — BW 5 (Brennen Ellis), Glacier 1 (Silas Young). Corner kicks — BW 3, Glacier 6. Fouls — BW 11, Glacier 16. Cards — BW 1, Glacier 2.
