Girls

The Butte High soccer programs opened their season this Saturday against Missoula Big Sky. The Lady Bulldogs fell to the Eagles 0-10; while the Butte High Boys earned a 4-0 victory.

The Lady Bulldogs played a competitive game early on, only allowing 2 goals in the first 25 minutes. Along with goalie, Jessie LaPier, the Bulldog defense made it difficult for Big Sky attacks. During the first 25 minutes, the Eagles were mostly limited to taking difficult shots outside of the penalty box.

On the offensive end of the field, Butte strikers Kenzie Jaksha and Kalli Burke created great opportunities using through-balls and combination passes to force 5 shots. The Butte offense regularly found themselves in one-on-one scoring opportunities with the Big Sky back line; but failed to put one into the back of the net.

Pressure by midfielders Ellie Quist and Lydia Revenaugh also threatened the Eagles defense throughout the game. Eventually, the Big Sky attack began to break down the Butte defense through consistent pressure to earn the final 0-10 score.

Special recognition needs to go out to Freshman midfielder Lydia Revenaugh and Sophomore Jessie LaPier. Revenaugh. In her second game as a Bulldog, Revenaugh played multiple positions during the match. She was disruptive for the Eagles everywhere she played. With the regular starting goalie sidelined for this match, backup Jessie LaPier had 13 total saves during the match, including two impressive saves from well-hit balls within 10 yards of the goal.

Boys

After a tough loss on Thursday, the Butte High Boys responded with a team victory.  Early in the first half, shortly after Big Sky blocked a Butte High penalty kick, Jack Luoma sent a free kick hard at the Big Sky goalie. Boyd Dewitt pounded it into the back of the net.  Later in the first half, Bulldog goalkeeper, Joe Schrader, showed his leg strength with a booming kick over the Eagle defense. The Big Sky goalie slipped on his way out of the penalty box, and Cameron Tobiness out sprinted everyone to tap it into the net.  It is very rare that a goalkeeper is ever credited with an assist.  Halftime: 2-0.

Butte High controlled the midfield in the 2^nd half and had many more chances to score.  Jack Luoma stole an errant pass from Big Sky’s defense and scored.  Butte High’s final goal came on a passing connection from Boyd Dewitt to Riley Doyle, who set up defender Reid Whitlock for a career first goal from about 30 yards out on the right side of the field.  Final score: 4-0.

Big Sky threatened the Bulldog aggressive defense, led by Zane Fredlund and Bridger Schutte, throughout the game. The good hands of goalkeeper Joe Schrader preserved the shutout.  4 JV kids saw time in the game as the varsity team still does not have any subs.  The Bulldogs were patient on offense and out-passed the Eagles.  Coach Cody Carpenter stated, “Overall, I was very proud of the entire team effort.”