Youth Soccer

By The Standard Staff - 06/22/2007

U 12 Marauder Erika McLeod challenges the Belgrade Rage keeper. McLeod scored on the play. Photo courtesy of Kelly Lovell.

Following are reports from recent games involving The Mining City Marauders youth teams from the Butte Soccer Club.

U-11 Co-Rec Stevensville Sabres White 11, Butte 3 The Butte goals were by Jacob Wheeler, Allison Bennett and John Liebel. Two were unassisted and Liebel’s was assisted by Josh Colvin. Picked as game standouts were Kaylee Simpkins and Dominc Rangel on offense, and Cassidy Okrusch and Marki Dauenhauer on defense. Goalkeepers Gradeigh O’Keefe and Tyler Reilly had eight and five saves, respectively.

Stevensville Sabres Blue 10, Butte 0 The outstanding player plaudits for the Marauders were given to Mijah McLeod and Sean Staples on offense, and Bridger O’Keefe and Josh Colvin on defense. Goalies Tyler Reilly and Molly Nelson notched seven saves apiece.

Billings 12, Butte 1 Tyler Reilly tallied the Butte goal. Bridger O’Keefe and Cassidy Harned were picked for offensive recognition, and Kaylee Simkins and Josh Colvin for defensive. The ‘keepers were Molly Nelson and Gradeigh O’Keefe.

Bozeman 10, Butte 0 Coach Erik Nelson said the team started passing more and that he saw improvement in teamwork. Thusly, some pats on the back went to Karly Okrusch and Jacob Wheeler for their play on offense, and Marki Dauenhauer and Dominic Rangel on defense. Molly Nelson and Gradeigh O’Keefe took turns guarding the goal.

U-12 Girls Butte 4; Belgrade Rage 1 Playing with a full roster for the first time in sometime, the Butte girls got off to a slow start — falling behind a strong team from Belgrade. Belgrade, playing a defensive soccer match with six defenders, frustrated an aggressive Butte offense for the better part of the first half. Natalee Faupel opened the scoring for the Marauders on a perfectly placed direct kick. The second half saw a different Butte team take the field as Mattie Scott, Haley Henderson and Erika McLeod all found the back of the net before the match ended. Natalee Faupel, Erika McLeod, Kaitlyn Hoopes, and Tess Janney all played strong all around matches on offense for the Butte girls while Mattie Scott and Haley Henderson brought much needed energy off the bench. Defensively, Emily Cleverly led the way with a very strong match while keeper Taylor Lovell allowed only one goal going the distance for the Marauders. The Marauders had to work very hard for this win against a very game club from Belgrade.

Helena Arsenal 6, Marauders 0 The afternoon match saw a tired Marauder team get soundly outplayed by a once-beaten Arsenal team. The Helena girls played a fabulous match dominating most of the action, the report said. The Marauder offense was slow to start, causing the Butte girls to have to play a considerable amount of defense. Helena won about 80 percent of the 50-50 balls throughout the match. Emily Cleverly, after getting beat for the second goal, adjusted and played very good defense, winning the ball and starting the Marauder offense throughout the match. Mikaela Alne also played a strong defensive match. Natalee Faupel and Erika McLeod continued their strong offensive performances from earlier in the day, coming up just short on numerous scoring opportunities. Katie Bennett, Haley Henderson and Mattie Scott played hard.

Montana Cup U-13 Boys Butte 1, Ravalli United 0 The U-13 boys finished play with a 1-1-0 record, beating The Missoula Strikers and losing to the Bozeman Blitzz. Their first match on the tournament Sunday was against a much improved Ravalli United team, and the Marauders knew they were in a must-win situation. The winner of the match was to advance to the championship game to face the Bozeman Blitzz. The Marauders started out the game with a very conservative game plan, focusing primarily on a strong defense. The only goal of the game came following a foul in the penalty box. Brandon Loeffler scored on the penalty kick to put Butte ahead 1-0. The team continued playing strong defense into the second half to hold United scoreless. The entire team played outstanding defense with Andrew Knapp, Jake Simkins, and Brandon Loeffler stopping every offensive effort by Ravalli, the report said. Noah Loomis and Jared Noyd played strong in the midfield position.

Championship Game Butte 2, Bozeman Blitzz 0 Butte goalie Jake Dennehy summed up the sentiments of the entire team when, after receiving his first-place medal, he looked at it and announced, "It doesn't say participant!". The U-13 boys, many of whomh have played together for five years, had winning the Montana Cup on their minds all season long. They saw it in their heads, they wanted it, and on that Sunday afternoon they went out on the field and got it, coach Greg Loeffler said, adding that the entire team played inspired soccer from whistle to whistle, totally dominating a Blitzz team who appeared to know they were beaten even before the first goal. Butte's offense has been dynamic all season, and this match was no exception, with the Marauders outshooting the Blitzz, 23-12. Forward Riley McNabb, playing his best soccer of the season this weekend, scored the first goal for Butte on a beautiful shot from just outside the 18. Zach Rogers scored the second goal for Butte when his shot was deflected off of a devastated Blitzz defender. Credit must be given to an outstanding effort by the Bozeman goalie who blocked many great shots by the determined and relentless Butte offense. The story of the game was once again Butte's flawless defense. Right defender Andrew Knapp played his best game of the season, handling every ball that came near him, and taking several up into the offense himself. Jake Simkins and Brandon Loeffler in the center of the defense totally shut down the Blitzz offensive attempts. Loeffler left his defensive position in the capable hands of Simkins often and managed to take 13 shots on goal. Pesky left defender Northey Tretheway continued to be an annoyance to opposing strikers. Noah Loomis, always a Butte standout wherever he plays, assisted in both the offensive and defensive end of the field with his never-give-up style of play, battling for and winning ball after ball. First-year player Jared Noyd in the midfield, covered the entire field, repeatedly winning balls from Bozeman and promptly returning them to his own offense. Jake Dennehy, playing four straight games in the Butte goal, posted his second shut-out for the tournament. The entire Marauders team is credited with stepping up their level of play, giving everything they had, and playing picture perfect soccer, to accomplish what they set out to accomplish-winning 1st place in their age division at the Montana Cup. The U13 boys finished the season with a 14-5-2 record, and scored 55 goals. Ten of the team's 15 players scored goals. Individual stats for the season follow.

Brandon Loeffler 33, Zach Rogers 7, Noah Loomis 6, Riley McNabb 3, Jake Dennehy 1, Matt Loeffler 1, Jacob Howery 1, Zach Howery 1, Andrew Knapp 1, Cooper Fisher 1 U-16 Boys Glacier United 4, Butte 1 Matt Mulcaire-Jones scored Butte’s goal. Nathaniel Loomis and Zach Hoard split time at goalkeeper.

Ravalli United 3, Butte 2 Butte scored on a header goal by Brett Powell off a corner kick by Matt Mulcaire-Jones assited by Chuckie Richards. The Marauders’ second goal came from Richards, assisted by Sage Prigge.

Defensive leaders for Butte were Dylan and Mitch DePlazes. Prigge suffered a broken wrist on a block, the report said.

Butte 4, Glacier United 1 Mitch DePlazes scored first for Butte off a cross pass from Chris Tarrant, then Chuckie Richards tallied, and Matt Mulcaire-Jones netted the team’s third goal. Richards put in the fourth on a penalty kick.

Tarrant was credited with good offense and a passing.

Butte 1, Ravalli United 0 Chuckie Richards scored the goal and it turned out to be the Butte game-winner. Leo Tod and Ryan Moe played great defense. Brett Powell was cited for excellent ball-handling and passing, and Cole Simms for some nice stops and passes. The report also said Zach Hoard put great pressure on the other team, and that Nathaniel Loomis was very effective in goal.