Bravettes clinch Western AA title

The Daily Inter Lake

HELENA - The Bravettes are still undefeated. They're also champions.

The Flathead High School girls' soccer team clinched the Western AA title Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Helena Capital.

The Bravettes (7-0-4) played against the wind during a scoreless first half before breaking out with goals by Meghan O'Connell and Talyssa Gardner.

O'Connell took a pass from Ashley Younkin, beating several defenders before firing a shot past Capital keeper Jenna FauntLeRoy. Gardner's goal came after a cross was deflected in a scrum in front of the net.

Flathead keeper Danika Pietron posted seven saves.

The Bravettes finish their regular season Thursday with an 8 p.m. home match against Glacier at Legends Stadium.

"We know Glacier has the potential to put a lot of pressure on us, and it's going to be our senior day, so the girls are going to be fired up to end their senior year at home," Flathead coach Scott Warnell said.

Flathead 0 2 - 2

Capital 0 0 - 0

FLATHEAD - Meghan O'Connell (Ashley Younkin), 58:00; Talyssa Gardner, 72:00

Shots on goal - FHS 16, Cap. 3

Corner kicks - FHS 3, Cap. 1

Goalie saves - FHS 7 (Danika Pietron), Cap. 12 (Jenna FauntLeRoy)

Fouls - FHS 4, Cap. 7

Cards - None

Bruins 4, Braves 2

HELENA - The defending Class AA state champion Braves fell behind 3-1 at halftime and couldn't complete the comeback.

"We came out a little flat," Flathead assistant coach Rob Ford said. "We weren't the team that we can potentially be. Things weren't clicking, and I'm not really sure why."

Ford said a communication breakdown was responsible for Capital's first goal as the Bruins led 1-0 after three minutes. Flathead's Luke Fischer tied the game at 1-all in the 19th minute before Capital's Jackson Wilkins scored two first-half goals.

The Braves (7-4) closed the deficit to 3-2 when Fischer fed Chresten Knaff on a beautiful flying header in the 47th minute, but Wilkins iced the game by completing a hat trick three minutes later.

The Braves finish their regular season Thursday with a 6 p.m. match against Glacier at Legends Stadium.

Flathead 1 1 - 2

Capital 3 1 - 4

FLATHEAD - Luke Fischer (Jordan Vaughan), 19:00; Chresten Knaff (Fischer), 47:00

CAPITAL - Tommy Clinch, 3:00; Jackson Wilkins, 23:00; Wilkins, 35:00; Wilkins, 50:00

Shots on goal - FHS 10, Cap. 13

Corner kicks - FHS 6, Cap. 4

Goalie saves - FHS 6 (Vaughan), Cap. 2 (NA)

Fouls - FHS 10, Cap. 10

Cards - None