MISSOULA — The Glacier girls defended well, and kept the scoresheet clean in the first half, but couldn’t find enough offense against a potent team from Missoula Sentinel, falling to the Spartans 1-0 on Tuesday in a Western AA conference soccer game.

Losing the possession battle all game, Glacier defended well enough to keep its contest scoreless for 50 minutes before surrendering a goal to the Spartans’ Syd Steele in the 51st. It was the only goal Sentinel needed to clinch the contest.

“They really possessed it,” Glacier coach Brenden Byrd said. “We were not ready.”

The Spartans outshot Glacier 23-6 and had seven corner kicks to the Wolfpack’s none. Glacier junior goalkeeper Amy Braig made 13 saves in the game.

“Our defense had one of the best performances we’ve seen,” Byrd said. “We held them to taking shots from 25 yards out instead of letting them break into our final third.”

Glacier takes on Flathead on Thursday in its next contest.

Glacier 0 0 – 0

Sentinel 0 1 – 1

S – Syd Steele (Claire Danicich), 51:00

Shots on goal – Glacier 6, Home 23. Saves – Glacier 13 (Amy Braig), Sentinel 5 (Bekah Joy). Corner kicks – Glacier 0, Sentinel 7. Cards – none.

Bigfork 6, Stevensville 1

BIGFORK — The Valkyries piled on the goals against Stevensville, scoring more in their opening game on Tuesday than all of last season.

Senior forward Megan Pancoast scored twice for Bigfork in a game where five freshmen started for the extremely young squad. Georgia Cleasby and Matty McAnally also scored.

Stats for the game weren’t provided by deadline.

Stevensville — 1

Bigfork — 6

Stats not provided.

BOYS

Glacier 3, Sentinel 2

MISSOULA — Glacier’s back line held its form and goalkeeper Ryker McIntyre kept his team out front with 10 saves as the Wolfpack topped Sentinel in a Class AA boys soccer game.

The Wolfpack scored twice in two minutes and to open the second half, and added the game winner in the 76th to pick up a gritty win on the road.

“Sentinel is a quality team, they’re going to fair well in the conference,” Glacier coach Ryan Billiet said.

“Today was probably one of those games where you grow up as a team. They’re finding out what it takes to get in the trenches and get a result.”

Billiet said McIntyre made five spectacular saves in the match and changed the outcome with his play.

“He played unbelevable,” Billiet said. “Without him the decision could’ve gone the other way.”

The Wolfpack doesn’t have much time to rest its legs, taking on Flathead on Thursday.

Sentinel 0 2 — 2

Glacier 0 3 — 3

G — Graham Friedman (Brandon Purdy) 47:00

G — Kade Deleray (penalty kick) 49:00

S — Adam Mickelson 51:00

G — Colton Becker (Purdy) 76:00

S — Mickelson 77:00

Shots - Glacier 11, Sentinel 17. Saves - Glacier 10 (Ryker McIntyre), Sentinel 3 (Kai Block). Corner kicks - Glacier 6, Sentinel 4. Fouls - n/a. Cards - none.

Stevensville 3, Bigfork 2

BIGFORK — The Vikings took an early lead, but were unable to hold on down the stretch, falling to Stevensville in their season opener.

Tyler Zavala opened the scoring for Bigfork in the first minute and Isaac Passwater added another in the 22nd on the second assist from Kyle Thomson to give Bigfork a 2-1 lead.

Stevensville tied the contest just before half on an unassisted strike and scored the only goal after the break to seal the win.

Stevi 2 1 — 3

Bigfork 2 0 — 2

B — Tyler Zavala (Kyle Thomson) 1’

S — Quade Renstrom (unassisted) 10’

B — Isaac Passwater (Thomson) 22’

S — Daniel Pendergast (unassisted) 34’

S — Payden Belcourt (Renstrom) 42’

Shots on goal - Stevi 9, Bigfork 7. Saves - Stevi 5 (Bronson Jensen), Bigfork 6 (Ben Russell). Corner kicks - Stevi 3, Bigfork 0. Fouls - Stevi 8, Bigfork 0. Cards - none.