HYSA set to host Cinco de Mayo fiesta

The Helena Youth Soccer Association (HYSA) is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Mexican fiesta dinner and silent auction fundraising event May 5 to benefit the local soccer program.

The HYSA Mexican fiesta will feature homemade enchiladas, quesadillas, rice, beans, chips and salsa, prepared by Adam and Erika Mendez.

The event will be at First Assembly of God Church on 2210 Dodge Ave., from 5-7:30 p.m. Silent-auction items will be available for bid at the dinner.

More than 1,000 kids and 800 families participate in HYSA soccer programs and play at Siebel Soccer Park near the airport. The 35-acre soccer facility was built by HYSA with assistance from the Helena Regional Airport, the City of Helena’s Open Space bond, and donations from generous families and Helena businesses.

The facility is exclusively managed, maintained, and operated by HYSA. Proceeds from the event will be dedicated to HYSA’s annual maintenance and operation costs.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 15 and under and $25 for a family of four or more. They can be purchased at Play On Soccer, 812 North Last Chance Gulch, and at the Siebel Soccer Park concession stand, under the big soccer ball.

The event is open to the entire Helena community. Current and past Helena soccer families are encouraged to attend.

To donate a silent auction item or to order tickets, call 461-4597 or 439-2480, or contact a HYSA board member.

For more information visit the HYSA Web site at helenasoccer.org.

U-12 Gold shine at Queen City Classic

The Arsenal U-12 girls Gold team began the season with a strong showing in the Queen City Classic April 12-13. The Arsenal girls met FC Missoula first and won the match 4-2.

Grace Ibsen scored off a pass from Kaitlin Martin. Ibsen scored a second time assisted by Emily Grinsell. Rachel Lunday found the back of the net assisted by Martin. Finally Letitia Hoffman put in the final goal off a nice pass by Lunday.

The team met a strong Flathead Force team in their second game and lost. Michaela Dowdy put in the team’s only goal assisted by Grinsell.

Sunday, the girls took on FC Missoula a second time. The team went after it hard and came away with a 5-1 victory to advance to the championship game. Ibsen found the net four times with assists by Hoffman, Dowdy and one breakaway. Hoffman scored off a pass by Ibsen.

The championship game was against the same Flathead Force team they met on Saturday. The team came out strong, keeping the Flathead girls out of scoring territory for most of the first half. Kalispell finally managed to put a beautiful shot past the Helena keeper. The girls went all out in the second half, putting a lot of pressure on Flathead and created many scoring opportunities. The Flathead defense held up, however, and the team finished in second place overall. Full credit for reaching the championship game needs to be given to a tough defensive effort by Emilee Jones, Callie Kanthack, Tori McHugh, Shayla Therriault and Celsea Van Diest.

U-15 boys win and tie to open season

The Helena Arsenal U-15 boys recently blanked Glacier United, 2-0, and played the Missoula Strikers to a 1-1 tie to open the youth soccer season.

Arsenal goal scorers included Nelson Edquest, Keegan Malany and Devin Palmer. Arsenal strikers were well supported in the midfield by Ronnie Alles, Jake Brodsky, Jonathan Cardiello, Cannon Colegrove, Ben George, Adam Mendez, Andrew Mitchell and Killian Smith.

Assists were credited to Palmer (2) and Derik Chaney. Playing behind defenders Dustin Bingham, Grady Bryson, Chaney and Joe Schadt, Arsenal keeper Zach Clinch turned back six shots in two games. The Arsenal U-15 boys will play two games at Siebel Soccer Park in Helena on Saturday.

Mechanics clinic for football refs planned

A mechanics clinic for high school football officials and those wishing to become officials will be held in Billings, June 15-18.

This clinic will stress National Federation mechanics for four- and five-man mechanics. It will include classroom instruction, video presentations, rules review and the little things that allow individuals to become great on-field officials.

The Montana High School Association (MHSA) recently stipulated that all football officials must attend a mechanics clinic in order to be eligible for postseason assignments.

This clinic, sanctioned by the MHSA, will provide an opportunity to learn the finer points of officiating from successful high school, small college and major college football officials.

Each official will have the opportunity to put to use what is learned by officiating scrimmages involving Montana’s Class AA high schools that will be staging their annual team camp. Eleven of the 14 Montana AA schools will be in attendance.

Each official can expect to improve fundamental officiating skills and knowledge. Everyone will receive valuable insight and techniques to improve judgment and communication, and will receive valuable on-field experience and feedback.

All sessions will be held at Billings Senior High School. The cost is $100 for the entire clinic and rooms will be available at Rocky Mountain College if needed. Application deadline is May 15. Clinic information can be obtained by contacting John Maloney, clinic director, in Helena at (406) 439-7001 or at maloneyjohn@bresnan.net.