White nips Red, 2-1, at 10th annual Shodair Classic

 By Dan Chesnet • Sports editor

HELENA — As lightning illuminated the dark skies around the campus of Carroll College Saturday evening, it was two strikes on the grass at Nelson Stadium that had fans quickly rising out of their seats.

The White squad scored twice within a two minute span late in the first half, then held off a furious second half charge by the Red squad in the final three minutes of the contest to win the 10th annual Shodair Classic, 2-1.

The match marked the final appearance in a high school uniform for nearly 40 of the state’s top senior soccer players. Among that elite list was Belgrade’s Kelsey Caracciolo, Jamie Greany and Emily Schmit, who all saw significant playing time as members of the women’s Red team.

The trio were each four-year starters for the Panthers, and helped Belgrade win a pair of State A titles (2005, 2007) during their tenure. Saturday marked their final match as teammates as all three will begin their collegiate careers over the next couple of weeks.

“It was fun to get together again,” said Greany, who leaves for Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton on Aug. 4. “I actually forgot about this (game). But it was fun to re-unite and give it our all.”

After the start of the match was delayed for more than 30 minutes as a quick moving thunderstorm blew through Helena, the two squads battled to a stalemate for much of the first half. Then, just as the distant lightning had disappeared, the White re-ignited the light show with two quick scores.

The game’s first goal was courtesy of a defensive breakdown by the Red in the 32nd minute after Caracciolo, who was playing stopper, and keeper Jordan Simkins (of Bozeman) both gave up on the ball on the right side of the box with each believing the other was going to clear it out of the defensive zone. As the two stood perplexed, Great Falls CMR’s Nicole Hickey swooped in to steal the ball and score what was likely the easiest goal of her career.

“It was totally a miscommunication. I thought she was going for it and she thought I was going for it,” said Caracciolo. “There was nothing we could really do. I mean our other wing didn’t come back, so it was a lot of compromising people. Lack of communication.”

Two minutes later the White made it 2-0 after Helena High’s Kelli Hubley smacked a shot off the crossbar. The ball wound up on the left side of the net where Whitefish’s Kylee Smith leaped into the air and headed it in for a goal from about five yards out.

By intermission, the Red had actually out-shot the White, 6-5. But Missoula Sentinel keeper Emily Mason stopped all three shots she faced, including a free kick by Greany from just outside the box in the 28th minute.

Like most of the players, Greany hadn’t played competitively since last fall. And it took Belgrade’s all-time leading scorer (47 goals, 15 assists) much of the first half to get things going.

“I was very rusty. As the game went on it got a little better,” she said.

Ten minutes into the second half, Greany created Red’s best scoring chance up to that point after slipping a pass through two defenders to Laurel’s Lexie Day. But Mason made a great kick save on Day’s subsequent shot.

Meanwhile, Schmit had taken over in goal for Simkins and shut out the White for the final 40 minutes of the contest. Trailing by two goals and knowing a third would likely seal the game for the White, Schmit knew she had to come up big off the bench.

“There was definitely pressure but that’s how I like it. I love playing under pressure,” she said. “Jordan did awesome in the first half. Those were some amazing shots and a miscommunication on the first one. But coming in in the second half I was ready to go.”

Out-fitted primarily with goal scorers, the Red struggled at times on the defensive end. Caracciolo was the team’s only true defender, and players were often caught out of position.

Thus, communication was key in the second half.

“We just talked like no other. We really had to communicate and help each other out because we did have some people that didn’t play a whole lot of defense,” said Schmit, who finished with five saves. “But we talked it up and it was awesome.”

Schmit was outstanding from the start, making a great diving save to her left midway through the second half to keep it a two goal game. Then late in the match she made two critical saves on a scramble in front of the net following a cross by the White.

The Red nearly cut the lead in half in the 60th minute when Hamilton’s Michelle Jones ripped a left-footed kick from 30 yards out. But Mason came up big again, making a diving save to her left.

The Red finally broke through in the 77th minute when Bozeman’s Allie Wisner got the ball past Mason following a pass that went off a defender’s foot. But after the Red had constantly pushed the ball throughout the second half, it was unable to muster another shot on goal in the waning minutes of the match.

Following the contest, the White’s Lauren Costa (of Missoula Sentinel) was selected as the Mountain Dew MVP for her efforts.

While Belgrade’s all-stars certainly enjoyed their time on the pitch, they also noted the experience leading up to Saturday’s match. Members from both teams helped conduct a free soccer clinic for area youth and visited the Shodair Children’s Hospital during their three-day stay in Helena.

“It was fun I guess knowing that by playing this sport we were doing help to others. Helping out the kids was just a fun experience. Good last little hurrah,” said Caracciolo. “There were a lot of kids. It was good, it was a lot of fun.”

Added Schmit: “It was so exciting and such an honor to be able to come and play in this Shodair Classic. To work with the little kids was amazing, and to learn more about the clinic itself was an awesome experience all around.”



West 3, East 1

In the men’s game, which followed the women, the West beat the East, 3-1. All three goals for the West were scored by athletes from either Helena High or Helena Capital.

Helena High’s Haley Klarich scored the match’s first goal, while Capital’s Tommy Clinch and Jackson Wilkins had the other two. Wilkins was later named the game’s MVP.

The East’s lone goal came in stoppage time by Butte High’s J.B. Lawrence to avoid a shut out.

What is the Shodair Classic?

The soccer classic is a benefit for Shodair Children’s Hospital in Helena and the important work it does for Montana’s youth. Shodair provides comprehensive medical genetics services and psychiatric services for children and adolescents from communities throughout the state.

Last year, the hospital provided more than $4 million in uncompensated care for at-risk children and youth. Support generated from events like the Soccer Classic and the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon help assure that these services remain available for young Montanans in need of help.



White 2, Red 1

White 2 0 - 2

Red 0 1 - 1

1st half

R - Nicole Hickey (unassisted), 32nd

R - Kylee Smith (unassisted), 34th

Second half

W - Allie Wisner (unassisted), 77th

Shots: White 11, Red 13. CK: White 0, Red 1. Fouls: White 2, Red 0. Saves:

White: 11 (Emily Mason 11), Red: 8 (Emily Schmit 5, Jordan Simkins 3).