Montana isn’t typically considered the breeding ground of the nation’s best soccer, but Piper Woodard bucks those trends.
Woodard is a star forward for Sentinel High in Missoula. During a game against city rival Big Sky, Woodard received a pass in the box, swiveled to square up her defender, then dropped her with a vicious nutmeg that would make the likes of Johan Cruyff proud.
The 4-foot-11 sophomore’s shot was just as impressive, flying straight past Big Sky goaltender Chelsea Todd. It was one of two goals Woodard contributed in her squad’s 4-1 victory, a key step forward in the school’s quest for a Western AA title, one which is expected to rely heavily on Woodard’s talent in the box.
“We were getting there and we were just excited after the first score,” Woodard told the Missoulian. “We’re starting to pick up now and it all just came together as a team. “