Soccer: Wolfpack boys rally past Big Sky

LUKE SCHMIT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 42 minutes AGO

Glacier's Brecken Evenson (15) scores a goal in the first half against Missoula Big Sky in the first round of the Class AA boys soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Nash Lisowski (4) sends a header just above the crossbar off a corner kick in the second half against Missoula Big Sky in the first round of the Class AA boys soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Kyler Hardman (2) scores a goal in the second half against Missoula Big Sky in the first round of the Class AA boys soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Madrid Stephan (21) plays a ball along the sideline in the second half against Missoula Big Sky in the first round of the Class AA boys soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Brecken Evenson (15) shoots in the first half against Missoula Big Sky in the first round of the Class AA boys soccer playoffs at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Sometimes a wakeup call is all we need.

For the Glacier boys soccer team, an early deficit Tuesday afternoon provided that spark.

Brecken Evenson scored twice in the first half and Kyler Hardman added a late goal as the Western AA’s No. 3 seeded Wolfpack rallied to defeat No. 6 Big Sky 3-1 in the opening round of the Class AA state playoffs at Kidsports.

The Eagles struck first when Connor Mathisen snuck the ball into the net in the 18th minute, putting Glacier in an unfamiliar position.

“I think that it started out a little slow and we weren’t as talkative in the beginning,” Glacier goalkeeper Jack Young said. “Once that first goal got scored, I think it was almost even necessary.”

Evenson answered in the 22nd minute, breaking behind the defense and finishing past the goalkeeper thanks to a quality setup from Madrid Stephan.

The junior struck again in the 36th minute, racing past defenders in transition before shifting to his right and flipping it past the Eagles keeper. Stephan assisted on both opportunities, capping a strong first half where he repeatedly gave the Wolfpack runs down the midfield.

“Their main focus defensively was to keep their high line,” Evenson said. “I saw that and made sure that I tried to manipulate that as much as possible.”

Glacier carried a 2-1 lead into halftime, but the Big Sky defense made it a challenge to score for much of the second half.

The match became physical and multiple Eagles defenders disrupted attacking runs as Glacier searched for the insurance goal. Young helped preserve the lead with a second-half save, while Glacier’s defenders settled in.

Hardman gave the Wolfpack breathing room in the 78th minute. The senior spotted an opening and took advantage.

“I looked up and the keeper was far left side of the goal,” Hardman said. “I was like, what are you doing? So I just scored it.”

The Wolfpack advanced to face Billings West in Saturday’s 4 p.m. quarterfinal in Billings.

“I think that game was a test for us,” Hardman said. “Just going down a goal and then battling back.”

Big Sky 1 0 - 1

Glacier 2 1 - 3

BS — Connor Mathisen, 18:00

G — Brecken Evenson (Madrd Stephan) 22:00

G — Evenson (Stephan), 36:00

G — Kyler Hardman, 78:00

Shots on goal — Big Sky 4, Glacier 8. Saves — Big Sky (Zane Loewen) 5, Glacier (Jack Young) 1. Fouls — Big Sky 6, Glacier 8. Corner kicks — Big Sky 1, Glacier 4. Yellow cards — Glacier 1,