Braves settle for 3rd

DeHerrera's 2 goals lift Flathead over West in consolation final

Jeremy DeHerrera didn't even want to think about doing it again.

"No!," was his quick response.

"I didn't want a shootout at all after yesterday's hard loss."

Afterall, the hurt was still there. Still lingering.

Flathead's title hopes were rocked Friday afternoon by Billings Senior in a shootout 3-0. The Braves and Broncs were forced to settle the outcome that way after being deadlocked at 2-all at the end of regulation play and two overtime periods.

Saturday's contest with yet another Billings school appeared headed for a similar gut-wrenching ending until DeHerrera hooked a well-placed shot into the bottom-left corner of the goal lifting Flathead to a 3-2 overtime victory over West for the consolation title.

DeHerrera's shot hit the post, but unlike several others on the day for Flathead, this one did not bounce out.

"We got really lucky," said DeHerrera.

"The soccer gods weren't with us today. We hit multiple posts."

The goal came with one minute left in the second overtime period, which negated another shootout.

"I found a little opening," he said.

"I bent it in."

It was the second goal on the day for DeHerrera. His earlier goal at 60 minutes tied the match at 2-all.

On that one, the West keeper slipped and DeHerrera took advantage of it.

"Not at all," he said of thinking before hand that his two goals would save the day for Flathead.

"I thought I would play, but I didn't think I would hit the game-winning shot."

DeHerrera normally mans the center mid position, but was moved to the forward slot as the game went along.

"I usually don't play forward, but one of our players was cramping up quite a lot," said DeHerrera.

"I like playing up there with Sean (Riley). He's such an outstanding player. Incredible."

The victory was the second straight for the Braves following the semifinal setback. For the tournament, Flathead posted a 3-1 mark.

That gave the Braves, Western Division champions, a 12-3-1 mark for the season.

"They're resilient," said Flathead coach Tom McFarlane of his squad.

"A physical game. To their credit, they have been able to handle any style they faced this year."

Flathead, more of a finesse team, had just seven fouls in the match to 15 for West. The Braves also dominated play, outshooting the Golden Bears 30-11.

"The end of the tournament," said McFarlane.

"Not your crispest play. Your character comes out (in games like this).

"The disappointment is knowing they are good enough to be up there," said McFarlane pointing to where the championship game was to be played later in the day Saturday.

Ross Van Brunt put Flathead on the board first, 19 minutes, and that score held up through the first half.

West tied the match on a penalty kick by Kevin Clapper at 56 minutes. Two minutes later, the Golden Bears took the lead on a shot by Steven Stockdale.

"It was a heckuva dogfight," said West coach Greg Alario.

"Unfortunately, someone had to lose.

"Lots of chances on both sides," he continued.

"They didn't go in for us."

West finished fourth at state, its best showing ever. The Golden Bears, which had just one tournament victory in 2000, went 2-2 at state.

"The last three weeks we've really come together as a team," he said.

"It's the second time they've been to state. We're starting to build a program here.

"We beat both Helena teams and lost to Flathead in overtime. It shows we have some good soccer teams in the east."

Girls

Championship

Helena Capital 5, Bozeman 2

Bozeman 1 1 - 2

Helena Capital 4 1 - 5

HC - Bobbi Allard (unassisted), 2:00

HC - Dani Daly (unassisted), 12:00

B - Vanessa Protz (penalty kick), 20:00

HC - Kati Moon (Katie Beall), 24:00

HC - Hannah Weinert (Daly), 35:00

B - Kaytie Vander Vos (unassisted), 41:00

HC - Whitney Dirks (Bethany VanDyke), 78:00

Shots - Bozeman 15, Capital 14. Saves - Bozeman (Casey Harn 6), Capital (Katie Beall 8). Corner Kicks - Bozeman 4, Capital 5. Fouls -

Bozeman 12, Capital 16. Offside - Bozeman 0, Capital 1. Yellow cards - none. Red cards - none. Records - Bozeman 9-2-4, Capital

12-1-2.

Consolation Final

Missoula Sentinel 3, Billings West 2

Missoula Sentinel 0 3 - 3

Billings West 1 1 - 2

BW - Callie Muri (unassisted), 4:00

BW - Samantha Sandau (Maggie Pueringer), 65:00

MS - Danielle McQuinn (Sam Senne), 67:00

MS - McQuinn (Kirstie MacMillen), 70:00

MS - MacMillen (unassisted), 73:00

Shots - Missoula Sentinel 7, Billings West 10. Saves - Missoula Sentinel (Grace Harris 9), Billings West (Kristin Barta 3). Corner Kicks -

Missoula Sentinel 2, Billings West 6. Fouls - Missoula Sentinel 5, Billings West 8. Offside - Missoula Sentinel 1, Billings West 0. Yellow

cards - Sentinel 1. Red cards - none. Records - Missoula Sentinel 6-7-4, Billings West 9-4-3.

Boys

Championship

Billings Senior 2, Bozeman 0

Bozeman 0 0 - 0

Billings Senior 2 0 - 2

BS - Andrew Kreiter (Marcus TenHarmsel), 17:00

BS - Kreiter (Rohn Angel), 32:00

Shots - Bozeman 16, Senior 11. Saves - Bozeman (Henry Graham 6), Senior (Derek Luptak 9). Corner Kicks - Bozeman 4, Senior 2. Fouls

- Bozeman 17, Senior 17. Offside - Bozeman 2, Senior 1. Yellow cards - Bozeman 3. Red cards - none. Records - Bozeman 9-4-2, Senior 12-2-1.

Consolation Final

Flathead 3, Billings West 2 (OT)

Billings West 0 2 0 - 2

Flathead 1 1 1 - 3

F - Ross Van Brunt (unassisted), 19:00

BW - Kevin Clapper (penalty kick), 56:00

BW - Steven Stockdale (unassisted), 58:00

F - Jeremy DeHerrera (Sean Riley), 60:00

F - DeHerrera (unassisted), 99:00

Shots - West 11, Flathead 30. Saves - West (Miguel Martinez 15), Flathead (Brock Jahner 4). Corner Kicks - West 7, Flathead 7. Fouls -

West 18, Flathead 6. Offside - West 5, Flathead 0. Yellow cards - none. Red cards - none. Records - West 8-7-1, Flathead 12-3-1.