Plains plays host to soccer tournament

The Amundson Sporting Complex came alive in Plains recently with soccer enthusiast all over converging at the fields for the annual tournament hosted by Wildhorse Youth Soccer.

There were 23 teams from 10 different towns competing. Team came from Libby, Stevensville, Frenchtown, Hamilton, Polson, Missoula, Kalispell, Whitefish and Helena.

Wildhorse Youth Soccer players are from Plains, Thompson Falls, St. Regis, Paradise and Hot Springs.?

The U17 team won the first on a forfeit, then lost the second game 4-3 to Frenchtown.

Wildhorse U14 lost their only game 5-2 to Frenchtown

The U11 Wildhorse boys won their first game 2-0 against Polson and lost their second game 0-4 to Helena.

The girls Wildhorse U11 lost their first game to Missoula 9-0 and lost their second game 4-0 to Helena.

Organizers of the event believe there were approximately 500 spectators for the event.

U17 Wildhorse Stampede took on Frenchtown with the visitors taking the win after a back and forth game to move even on points with the hosts; and into a 3-way tie for first place in the Classic under 17-19 league table.

“Both teams knew the game was a key match as victory would take them above their opponents, but it was Frenchtown that were able to see out the match scoring 3 goals in the second half to overcome a 3-1 start,” explained Nick Lawyer, Association President.

In a first half that ebbed and flowed, the hosts had the game’s first clear-cut chance after barely 5 minutes when Ryan Schraeder struck the woodwork on a fierce strike from 8 yards out.

“The stampede continued to attack and broke the deadlock after Kyran Kenison was hauled down just on the outside of the box,” said Lawyer.

A crafty spot kick netted the Stampede their first goal when Kenison served up an assist for Ryan Schraeder to slide past the Frenchtown keeper.

Stampede again found space to strike mid-way through the first half on a floated cross from Nathan McNulty.

“Kyran Kennison rose to meet the cross and struck a sweet outside the foot full-volley that pinged the cross-bar” said Lawyer.

“Schraeder was again alert and slotted home his second goal for a brace,” he added.

The Stampede were cruising when some fancy dribbling from Elijah Costner pulled the Frenchtown defense apart and he was able to assist a charging Nathan McNulty who slotted a ball past the keeper from close range to make it 3-0.

The Stampede were caught in possession right before the half and Frenchtown pulled a goal back to make it 3-1 at half time.

The first half was dominated by Stampede, the second half was all Frenchtown.

“Frenchtown came out with a high press that was really difficult for us to solve and caught us a bit off guard. They also had an intensity about their play that took us awhile to overcome and we really couldn’t get anything going until the final 10 minutes,” explained Lawyer.

Lawyer said that the Frenchtown team scored within 5 minutes of the start of the second half and drew level on a penalty after a handball in the box.

The pressure from Frenchtown continued, and they had several chances to score.

“If it wasn’t for our keeper Wyatt, or if Frenchtown had their shooting cleats on, they easily could have had five or six goals on the day. Their high press was really tough to break through and it wasn’t until the last 10 minutes that we were really able to overcome it,” explained Lawyer

As the Stampede committed numbers forward to break the press they left several opportunities open; In the end Frenchtown was able to see out the win.

The weekend’s defeat sees Wildhorse Stampede slip into a three-way tie for first place along side Frenchtown and Miles City.

“Even with the loss this game speaks volumes about our program. Frenchtown is a fantastic program - their team played high school soccer last fall and didn’t loose a conference match,” said Lawyer.

“They won southern A and were state semifinalists - that’s not nothing. To be leading 3-1 at half, to be in the game to the very end, and to be tough to beat for these big teams is tremendous. Yes, we are frustrated to lose a game when we built a two-goal lead, but we must learn from this experience, and get better on the field,” expressed Lawyer.