Soccer: Glacier girls allow 1 shot, beat Capital 4-0

LUKE SCHMIT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 hours, 57 minutes AGO

Glacier celebrates after a goal in the second half by Lucy Holloway (12), second from right, against Helena Capital in the first round of the Class AA girls soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Gracie Winkler (24) shoots in the first half against Helena Capital in the first round of the Class AA girls soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Bailee Dahlman (11) centers a ball in the second half against Helena Capital in the first round of the Class AA girls soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Portia Hammer (3) pushes the ball upfield in the first half against Helena Capital in the first round of the Class AA girls soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Lucy Holloway (12) scores a goal in the second half against Helena Capital in the first round of the Class AA girls soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Taylor Brisendine (17) shoots in the second half against Helena Capital in the first round of the Class AA girls soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Lucy Holloway (12) heads a ball wide of the goal off a corner kick in the first half against Helena Capital in the first round of the Class AA girls soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Gracie Winkler (24) scores a goal in the second half against Helena Capital in the first round of the Class AA girls soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier’s offense had plenty to celebrate Tuesday afternoon, but it was the Wolfpack defense that shined in the opening round of the AA state girls soccer playoffs.

Four different Glacier players found the back of the net as the Western AA’s No. 3-seeded Wolfpack blanked No. 6 Helena Capital 4-0 at Kidsports, advancing to the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Glacier dominated possession and finished with 20 shots on goal and four corner kicks while holding the Bruins to just one shot on target.

“This defense has put together performance after performance,” Glacier coach Ryan Thompson said. “They’re so reliable.”

The Wolfpack wasted little time testing Capital goalkeeper Reese Price, generating several early chances before freshman Portia Hammer broke through in the eighth minute. Gracie Winkler slipped a pass into the box, where Hammer tucked a shot into the lower right corner.

Capital began to settle in, but Price was kept busy as the Wolfpack continued to push aggressively.

Bailee Dahlman doubled Glacier’s lead in the 23rd minute with a long free kick from nearly midfield. Winkler positioned herself near the goal, creating trouble for the Bruins’ back line as the ball sailed past Price.

Glacier carried its two-goal advantage into halftime, with its defense limiting Capital’s opportunities.

“I think that our composure as a defense has just improved so much throughout this season,” Dahlman said. “Just our positioning and staying up with their two strikers helped us against them.”

The Wolfpack continued to control the pace after halftime, although finishing chances proved more difficult. Winkler, Hammer and Addy Brisendine kept pressure on the Bruins, forcing Price into several more saves.

The second-half breakthrough happened in the 72nd minute when Lucy Holloway finished a pass from Winkler inside the box. Six minutes later Winkler put away a rebound to cap the scoring, finishing the afternoon with a goal and two assists.

Price finished with 16 saves for Capital, while Glacier goalkeeper Aerin Todd recorded the shutout.

Thompson said his message entering the postseason focused on three words: positivity, composure, and resiliency.

“Not everything goes your way in a playoff game,” Thompson said. “You just have to stay level-headed throughout the whole game.”

Glacier now heads to Billings for a 6 p.m. matchup Saturday against defending Class AA state champion Billings Senior, with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

“This is a team we’ve never played,” Dahlman said. “I think we’re ready for them, and I don’t think they’re ready for us.”

Capital 0 0 - 0

Glacier 2 2 - 4

G — Portia Hammer (Gracie Winkler), 8:00

G — Bailee Dahlman (Free kick), 23:00

G — Lucy Holloway (Winkler), 72:00

G — Winkler, 78:00

Shots on goal — Capital 1, Glacier 20. Saves — Capital 16 (Reese Price), Glacier 1 (Aerin Todd). Corner kicks — Capital 1, Glacier 4. Yellow Cards — Capital 1 (Addison Crawford).

Reporter Luke Schmit can be reached at 406-758-4441 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.