Grizzlies, Zags to have soccer exhibition in C-Falls

NCAA Division I soccer is coming to Columbia Falls, in the form of an women’s exhibition match between Montana and Gonzaga on Aug. 11 at Flip Darling Field.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the exhibition will kick off at 7:30 p.m. 

Gonzaga went 14-4-2 last season, including a 1-0 win over Idaho in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs then lost to UC Irvine 2-1 in the second round. 

Montana went 13-3-3 last fall, ending with a 1-0 loss to Northern Arizona in the Big Sky Conference championship. The Grizzlies boast two Flathead Valley products on their roster: senior Skyleigh Thompson out of Flathead High and freshman Reagan Brisendine out of Glacier High.  

Thompson is the reigning Big Sky Offensive MVP and was all-Big Sky as a junior last fall. Brisendine piled up 72 goals in her prep career and signed with UM in November. 

In addition, Whitefish graduate Norah Schmidt, a keeper, signed with Gonzaga in December, after leading the Bulldogs to their first girls state title last fall. 

    Flathead's Alivia Rinehart (30) and Glacier's Reagan Brisendine (22) battle for possession in the first half at Legends Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)