2025 NPSL Big Sky Challenge a Massive Success
By Daniel Shepard/NPSL.com
Henry Pierce, soon-to-be a junior at Whitman College, scored two goals Saturday in his pre-professional capacity for a hometown crowd he brought state championships during high school playing days.
“I’ve been playing [soccer] year-round since I was young,” Pierce said. “I think this is a great way to stay in shape and keep in good shape for my college season. It’s a great, great thing.”
Implored to celebrate an historic goal by Missoula Wildfire FC teammates, a smile spread across Pierce’s face as cheers from 500 in attendance – and several hundred more on-lookers nearby – cascaded upon him under a setting sun and distant snow-capped mountains.
“I saw the space behind the defense,” Pierce said. “It was a great ball from Brady [Reed]. I just controlled it with my chest, saw the goalie a little bit to the left and just tapped it in. My celebrations are terrible. I feel weird celebrating. I’m just happy, happy to score.”
The Wildfire beat Spokane Shadow SC 3-0 in the 2025 NPSL-Big Sky Challenge, an exhibition designed to elicit community support for summer 2026.
Pierce, a Missoula Hellgate graduate playing for his former head coach Jay Anderson, added a late score to his early-second half tally, beating Spokane’s keeper to another building celebration of spectators. Pierce narrowly missed a hat trick, a rocket collecting post and flying harmlessly out of bounds.
“It’s my community,” Pierce said. “I know most of the people out here. It’s just good to have them support me.”
“Proud of him,” Anderson said. “A good moment for him, scoring the first goal for this team. Couldn’t go to a better guy. He works hard. He’s been playing well in college. He deserved it.”
Chris Essman used a diagonal pass from Kai Narum to send a top-of-the-box shot into the net, pushing Missoula’s advantage to a pair.
Missoula dominated time of possession, threatening to score multiple first-half goals. Wildfire keepers Hank Shattuck – a former Missoula Strikers standout – and Ben Vetter tossed a shutout for the home squad.
The nightcap for Saturday’s Intermountain Champions Cup action, creating an atmosphere and fan support for six, seven, eight potential new NPSL teams is Charlie Vandam’s summer goal, kickstarted by heroics from Pierce and company wearing orange and white.
“We had max capacity, exactly what we wanted,” Vandam, Wildfire managing partner, said. “Great game, great environment. Fans got into the game. It was everything we wanted to do for this match.”
Having filled park bleachers Saturday, Vandam pointed across the street to Missoula Big Sky’s 2,000-seat high school football stadium, next summer’s attendance challenge for Montana pre-professional soccer.
“I just talked to a guy from Kalispell,” Vandam said. “He said, ‘we’ve got to do this in Kalispell.’ We already have a group in Bozeman that’s interested in starting a team. Same with Billings. The [Spokane] Shadow wants to be a part of this league, too.”
Helena and Coeur d’Alene are also proposed locations for start-up NPSL teams, Vandam said.
Work this summer, finding the missing pieces to make soccer teams in those communities work, is a main priority.
“It could only do great things for the state of Montana,” Anderson said. “If some of the other bigger cities: Bozeman, Billings can get teams as well, it’s a great opportunity for the kids who are going off to college to come back and still play at a high level. Hone their skills, and give something back to their community.”
Photo Credit: Gary Marshall/NPSL.com
