Braves take Western AA soccer title
The Daily Inter Lake
MISSOULA - The Braves are conference champions.
Andrew Gill registered a goal and an assist as the Flathead High School boys soccer team beat Missoula Big Sky 5-2 on Thursday to clinch the Western AA championship.
"It was a big win for us, it clinched the Western Division title for us." said first year Flathead head coach Eric Sawtelle. "We're definitely proud of all the players - nobody pegged us for doing this at the beginning of the season, so it says a lot for their work ethic."
The Braves (10-2, 9-1) won't play again until the state tournament begins Oct. 26 in Helena. Flathead likely opens the double-elimination tournament against Great Falls C.M. Russell in what appears to be a wide-open playoff field.
"It's anybody's for the taking," Sawtelle said. "Whoever shows up to play the hardest can do it."
Gill assisted Eric Narduzzi's goal in the second minute to give Flathead an early lead and scored off Luke Fischer's assist in the 35th minute to make it 3-1. Jarred Rice and Cameron Clevidence added Flathead's final goals and Chresten Knaff had an assist.
"Our play has improved, our team is playing well together and we're really proud of ourselves for what we've accomplished so far," Sawtelle said.
Flathead 2 3 - 5
Big Sky 1 1 - 2
Flathead - Eric Narduzzi (Andrew Gill), 2:00; own goal, 35:00; Gill (Luke Fischer), 50:00; Jaredd Rice, 66:00; Cameron Clevidence (Chresten Knaff), 72:00
Big Sky - Lance Foust, 5:00; Yannick Mueller, 79:00
Shots on goal - Flathead 18, Big Sky 8
Corner kicks - Flathead 10, Big Sky 5
Goalie saves - Flathead 4 (Jordan Vaughan), Big Sky 7 (Andre Kirichenko)
Total fouls - Flathead 8, Big Sky 3
Yellow cards - Flathead 1, Big Sky 0
Girls
Flathead 4, Big Sky 1
MISSOULA - Ashley Younkin and Meghan O'Connell notched a goal and an assist each to lead the Flathead High School girls soccer team past Missoula Big Sky on Thursday.
The Bravettes finished regular-season play with a 9-1-2 record, including 7-1-2 in Western AA play. Flathead will place second in the conference unless Helena Capital loses its final game.
"I'm pleased with how the season's gone," said Flathead coach Scott Warnell. "With this team only having two returning starters and having to fill the gaps with all the JV players from last year, they really stepped up to the task and have done a good job and been real solid."
Keni VanBrunt and Courtney Porch scored goals for Flathead while Heidi Windauer and Ally Krautbauer each made an assist.
"We just came out with really good intensity today," Warnell said. "We controlled the ball from the back all the way to the front and just made it tough for Big Sky to get any good shots."
The solid road win was encouraging for Flathead since the Bravettes head to Helena for the state tournament in two weeks.
"Up until today we haven't really played very well on the road and I felt the girls really stepped up and wanted to go into the playoffs coming off a good, solid win and they did that," Warnell said. "I look at the state tournament as a brand new season. If you come to play, you have a great chance of going all the way and this team is definitely capable of doing that."
Flathead 2 2 - 4
Big Sky 0 1 - 1
Flathead - Meghan O'Connell (Ashley Younkin), 21:00; Keni VanBrunt (Heidi Windauer), 30:00; Younkin (Ally Krautbauer), 45:00; Courtney Porch (O'Connell), 46:00
Big Sky - NA, 52:00
Shots on goal - Flathead 26, Big Sky 13
Corner kicks - Flathead 3, Big Sky 2
Goalie Saves - Flathead 10 (Danika Pietron), Big Sky 24 (Allyson Cowan)
Total fouls - Flathead 6, Big Sky 5
Yellow cards - Flathead 0, Big Sky 1