Hi-Line United wraps up its soccer season at Montana Cup in Miles City

The Hi-Line United U19 soccer team concluded its season at the 2019 Montana Classic Cup last weekend in Miles City.

The team representing the Hi-Line on the soccer pitch took part in the statewide 19U cup and competed in a six-team field that also included Sidney, Lewistown, Miles City, Red Lodge and Big Timber.

The tournament got underway last Saturday with the start of group play that included three matches for each team as the six teams were split into a pair of three-team groups, with the winner of each group set to advance to the championship match.

In the opening of group play, the United played their way to a draw against their first opponent, Miles City, in a match that ended in a 4-4 tie. That gave the United one point in the standings but it would be their last after losses to both Lewistown and Sidney. Lewistown knocked off the United 4-1 Saturday and in the final match of group play Sunday morning, the United were routed by Sidney, eliminating the Hi-Line team from championship contention.

Sidney reached the championship match thanks in part to the seven-goal win over the United. In the title match of the Montana Classic Cup, it was defeated by Red Lodge, which took home the championship after a 2-1 win in the final.

The Hi-Line United took part in the Montana Classic Cup following a 10-match season in the Montana State Spring League that saw the United face teams from Sidney, Big Timber, Livingston, Miles City, Lewistown and Red Lodge. The United were 1-9 during the season with their lone win coming back April 6 when they knocked off Lewistown 7-6.

The United were led by head coach Jayson Burrington once again, who said the team was building with mostly young players this past season after winning the Montana State Cup for the 17U Gold Division in 2018. The roster for the 2019 season included Heather Rolf, Sean Borrero, Rhoda Peterson, Max Olson, Jacob Van Wagner, Noah Teasly, Maddison Stamper Aubree Erickson, Nina Flores, Justin Rolf, Natalie Verploegen, Pedro Bereta, Sergio Tamayo, Trennis Riley, Paxtin McCann and Abby Niedert.

"It was a rocky season," Burrington said. "Having a lot of new kids on the team and trying to find that family click was kinda hard this year. We only won one game but we also had a lot of injuries to deal with."