It took awhile for the first game of the 10th annual Shodair Soccer Classic to get under way Saturday at Nelson Stadium, but once it did, the White and Red women's team put together some sparks in the game brighter than the lightning storm that delayed it.

After starting 35 minutes late, the White squad came out in force, scoring two goals in the first half and controlling the center of the field to beat Red 2-1.

The two teams were made up of Montana high school all-state graduates at the AA and A levels and were meeting as part of a weeklong event to help raise money for Shodair Hospital.

After fighting through most of the first half without a score, C. M. Russell's Nicole Hickey broke away from defenders to score the White squad's first goal of the game in the 33rd minute.

Hickey followed a pass just inside the goalie box, where Red goalie Jordan Simkins and defender Kelsey Caracciolo of Belgrade collided at the center. Both looked to the other to clear the ball and Hickey snuck a left boot in to pop the ball away. With a wide-open net, Hickey eased the ball in.

"I was a little nervous at the beginning of the game, but in the first five minutes we had a good shot on goal and we showed we had the confidence to score," Hickey said.

With momentum on their side, the White quickly made it 2-0 a little over a minute later as Kylee Smith rebounded a shot by Helena High's Kelli Hubley into the right side of the net. Hubley's blast ricocheted high off the crossbar and, from about five feet out, Smith leapt to head it in.

"We always practice following the shot," Smith said. "You don't see it a lot; I just tried and it worked. I was surprised."

Red scrambled to make a dent in White's tough defense before the half ended, and in the final few minutes were able to get a few opportunities. Laurel's Lexie Day just missed a cross through the center of the goalie's box by Red teammate Michelle Jones of Hamilton. Day lay down in the box as White quickly turned the ball around.

Lauren Hickok of Bozeman had the last strong chance of scoring in the half, though her direct kick from 25 yards out went straight into the wall of defenders. White goalie Emily Mason of Missoula Sentinel didn't see a stronger opportunity before the intermission.

"(Red) came out and played a lot of high-pressure soccer," said White head coach Scott Warnell of Flathead.

The White's Lauren Costa of Sentinel High was named the game's MVP.

"We switched up the lineup a little bit," said Bozeman's Allie Wisner of Red. "But really, we just went out in the second half and worked harder."

With its players pushing the ball constantly, the Red finally got its goal when Wisner caught a bit of a lucky break in the 77th minute. A shot attempt bounced off a defender's foot just outside the goalie box and landed at Wisner's feet.

"I knew it was coming to me," Wisner said. "It was like 'Yes, we're going to score!' "

Wisner's hard roller went untouched into the net.

Before leaving the final game of their high school years, both squads made sure to collect themselves for one final run across the field to the sounds of cheering fans.

"It felt awesome to score," Hickey said, "I had goosebumps. But, just running across the field at the end was the best feeling."

Jeff Windmueller: 447-4065 or jeff.windmueller

@helenair.com