MISSOULA – Missoula Hellgate’s two soccer squads remain unbeaten in conference play after crosstown battles on Tuesday, but the Missoula Big Sky girls still remain in first place.
Big Sky and Hellgate battled to a 2-2 draw on the Eagles’ home field in the girls match. The two teams were tied 1-1 at halftime, but the Knights struck early in the second half when McKell Wilson got ahead of the defense. Her shot from close range was stopped by Big Sky keeper Grace Denman, but Gabriella Beaton followed the play and knocked the rebound into the net.
Midway through the half, Big Sky responded to tie it back up. Hannah Santamaria sent in a corner kick that just cleared the keeper’s hands. Whitney Morrison was waiting on the doorstep to score for the Eagles. Big Sky had several more chances to score in the final minutes but had two shots bounce off the post. The Knights’ backup keeper, Sophie Pierce, also made a diving save to preserve the 2-2 draw.
Hellgate’s girls remain unbeaten in league play with a 5-0-4 record. Big Sky has picked up more wins with a 7-1-1 record. The Eagles stay three points ahead of the Knights for first place in the Western AA conference.
In the boys match that followed, three-time defending state champion Hellgate continued its season-long dominance. The Knights breezed past Big Sky 9-0. Unbeaten Hellgate is now 8-0-1 in league, while the Eagles fall to 0-10-0.
The final Missoula crosstown soccer doubleheader of the season kicks off at 3 p.m. Thursday when Hellgate hosts Missoula Sentinel.
