Seven cards shown to Lone Peak girls soccer in energetic 6-0 finale
By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
It was a game to remember.
On the Big Horn Coliseum scoreboard on Oct. 10, Billings Central Catholic High School racked up a 6-0 lead in the last 20 minutes of Lone Peak High School girls’ final game of the season and senior night. The Big Horns didn’t go down without a fight, and the referee took note. In the last 10 minutes of the game, he reached for his cards six times, stoking a sideline of fans and teams that had turned boisterous by then. Ultimately, the Big Horns left the pitch with five yellow cards and two red cards.
As parents gathered to give the Big Horn players one last cheer at the end of their 2026 season, more than a couple laughed and asked what was on everyone’s minds:
“What just happened?”
Going into the second half of a scoreless game against the Billings Central High School Rams, the Big Horn juniors Lola Morris and Maeve McRae sent shots on goal, which were saved by the Rams’ skilled goalkeeper, junior Lorelai Hutzenbiler. Even as the Big Horns sent more shots on target, some landed just a touch over the cross bar while others were blocked again by Hutzenbiler. About 15 minutes into the second half, Billings Central, the No. 1 ranked team in the Class A eastern division, began scoring.
Rams junior Maisey Biehl was the first to score, followed by junior Emerson Dull’s two goals and freshman Maci Sanchez’ one. Junior Ashtyn Staples scored on two free kicks to bring the Rams up to 6-0, where the score remained 6-0 for the last few minutes of the game.
Seniors Sabine Hurlbut and Sophie Kendrick looked back at the match and their season fondly.
“Though we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted, the support system and the family that comes with this team is better than winning,” Kendrick said.
“It’s definitely bittersweet for it to come to an end, but just to know that everyone will still be there even though the season’s over for, like, eternity just feels awesome,” Hurlbut said.
The two seniors have played soccer together for seven years. They were joined by senior team managers Ursula Blyhte and Pearl Goldberg. Goldberg played her first three seasons until an injury took her out of her final season.
“We have team values, and my favorite one is love, and I think our team has a lot more love within us all than a lot of other teams we play. It shows in … moments like these,” Goldberg said.
What at first came as frustration as the Big Horns collected yellow cards near the end of the second half, soon became an ironic achievement as more players were given cards and sent off the field. From the sidelines, parents wondered who would be next to join the yellow card club. By the final whistle, the team had received five yellow cards—two of them adding up to a red—and the referee dealt one last red card to the team after the match ended.
A lot gets lost in communication on a soccer field and the sidelines, but one thing is certain: both sides were entertained, if a bit confused, by the dramatic season finish.
Coaches honor parting seniors
In the senior ceremony before the game, girls soccer coaches Kim Dickerson and Patty Hamblin noted what made the senior class, which consists of Goldberg, Hurlbut, Kendrick and a second team manager, Ursula Blythe, special.
“Thank you for representing Lone Peak High School girls soccer with humility, grace and strength. Each of you has faced adversity during your high school years and has come through it with an appreciation for the little things in life,” the coaches stated in a letter read aloud.
“You have each charted your own path, and through it all, soccer was the one thing that kept you grounded and connected. As your coaches, we are so grateful for all the effort and heart you’ve given to this sport we love so much.”
The Big Horns closed out their season 5-5 overall, having missed out on the conference championship after a loss to Laurel High School Oct. 8.
