Aug. 28—The Glacier boys soccer team isn’t looking too far ahead to start 2025, while the girls add a year of experience after starting a young squad in 2024.
Wolfpack boys head coach Ryan Billiet says this season is a good year to focus on program standards and beliefs.
The Wolfpack graduated nearly 30 players over the past two seasons, and a changing of the guard comes for a squad that features five seniors. They finished 2024 with a quarterfinal appearance and an 8-6 record.
“We have an incredible group this year,” Billiet said. “We have a lot of new leadership. A great freshman group coming in and good returners.”
Billiet thanks the club system in the valley for creating such a high talent pool for soccer at Glacier. He says his team is focusing on the next three weeks to help develop his squad before turning towards the back half of the season.
“Building trust and coming together as a team,” Billiet said. “The soccer will come, but right now we are trying to work on the program and people and make sure the standard is high.”
Returning for the Wolfpack is Tayton Hardman, a senior defender and all-conference selection a season ago.
Glacier also brings back the services on goalkeeper Silas Young, who missed his junior season while in Ecuador. He started during his sophomore season when the Wolfpack went 13-1.
Glacier faces an early challenge on Saturday when they travel to play Missoula Sentinel in their season opener. The Spartans are among the favorites in Western AA for 2025.
“We love the fact that we will be tested early,” Billiet said.
The Wolfpack girls come into the 2025 season after starting seven freshmen for the majority of 2024.
Doug Mello’s squad finished the year 10-4-2 with a quarterfinal appearance against eventual champions Bozeman. Mello returns for year three as head coach and hopes for his team to make another leap forward as a more experienced group.
“Our hope and expectation is to win the state title, but if you take gradual steps, it would be to finish top four of the league and move on and advance further than last season,” Mello said.
Leading the charge up front will be sophomore Gracie Winkler, an all-conference selection who had eight goals and six assists in 2024.
Joining her up front in Flathead transfer Avi Schmautz and Lucy Holloway, forming what Mello called the best attacking trio in the state.
Mello also noted his trio of midfielders: Neve Travis, Bailey Dahlman and Hazel Remley.
“All are sophomores, and they should open up the offense with their passing abilities,” Mello said.
Rachel Brennan brings her leadership to the back line as the lone senior on the roster; she enters her fourth season starting on varsity.
In goal, Glacier welcomes back Aerin Todd, the day one starter a year ago who sat out the majority of the season with a broken hip.
Both Wolfpack squads begin their season against Sentinel on Saturday. The girls kick off at 10 a.m., with the boys game following at noon.
