FHS girls unbeaten, on to state
The Bravettes are exactly where they want to be.
The Flathead High School girls' soccer team capped an undefeated regular season Thursday with a 3-1 senior night victory over Glacier at Legends Stadium.
Senior Meghan O'Connell scored two goals and junior Heidi Windauer notched one as Flathead led 3-0 before Maddey Frey - a Bravette last season - put Glacier on the board in the 77th minute.
The Western AA champion Bravettes (8-0-4) earned an automatic berth into the Class AA state tournament, which begins Oct. 25 in Helena. Flathead will open against Eastern AA's No. 4 seed.
"It's always nice getting the bye to go into state because you're not having to worry about the playoff game and what might happen in that game," Flathead coach Scott Warnell said.
Flathead last enjoyed an undefeated regular season in 2005.
"It's definitely a pleasant surprise," Warnell said. "I knew we had a lot of talent coming back, but to go undefeated - I wouldn't have guessed that in the beginning of the year."
Flathead's veteran leadership was evident Thursday as senior goalkeeper Danika Pietron tallied six saves and senior midfielder Ally Krautbauer had two assists, including a 68th-minute corner kick which led to O'Connell's header.
"We had a lot of emotion tonight with nine seniors," Warnell said. "They went out and played with a lot of emotion, but played well."
Seniors Niki Kropp, Kelsie Norwood, Jordan Gentry, Ashley Younkin, Kelsey Klingensmith and Keni VanBrunt all were in the starting lineup before finishing the game together.
"It's been a great group of seniors," Warnell said. "They were freshmen my first year as head coach, and they've really developed into a strong core and played well together in their four years at the high school."
Glacier 0 1 - 1
Flathead 1 2 - 3
GLACIER - Maddey Frey, 77:00
FLATHEAD - Meghan O'Connell, 14:00; Heidi Windauer (Ally Krautbauer), 45:00; O'Connell (Krautbauer), 68:00
Shots on goal - Gla. 6, FHS 21
Corner kicks - Gla. 2, FHS 5
Goalie saves - Gla. 18 (Kayla Byle), FHS 6 (Danika Pietron)
Fouls - Gla. 5, FHS 2
Cards - None
Braves 4, Wolfpack 0
Flathead's seniors made the most of their final match at Legends Stadium as the Braves broke open a game that began as tight as the field it took place on.
The opening half was played at a frenetic pace, yet the match remained scoreless until Flathead's elder statesmen found ways to generate offense on a compact pitch designed for football.
Connor Cavigli put the Braves on the board in the 29th minute, following a long ball from Flathead keeper Jordan Vaughan before nudging it past Glacier's defense.
Chresten Knaff made it 2-0 at the break before he and Luke Fischer iced the game with second-half goals.
Brian Ham assisted Fischer's 52nd-minute goal as seniors accounted for every Flathead goal and assist, and all but one of its saves.
"We were just trying to play our game … keep (the ball) on the ground and keep playing hard the whole game," Knaff said.
"I think we came out a little frantic, and as the game went on we just kind of slowed it down and got into a passing rhythm."
The defending Class AA state champion Braves finished their regular season with an 8-4 record, good for third place in the Western AA behind Helena High and Helena Capital, which beat Flathead on Saturday.
"After the letdown in Helena on Saturday, we all just started to work harder," Knaff said. "The seniors tried to step up."
Vaughan tallied six saves before giving way to sophomore Caleb Allen-Schmid late in the second half. Kevin Fraley, Erik Skybak, Chris Ruby, Mark Shuman, Tyler McRae, Collin Hamman and Brendan Passmore also played their last regular season games in black and orange.
"We have an amazing group of 12 seniors on our team," Flathead coach Eric Sawtelle said. "Every step of the way those guys are always willing to step up and make big plays."
The Braves will host a playoff game next week, determining whether or not they earn a berth in the state tournament in Helena, which begins Oct. 25. Their opponent will be Glacier if the Wolfpack (1-10) defeat or tie Missoula Big Sky on Saturday.
Glacier beat the Eagles 6-4 to begin the season. It should be successful Saturday if it plays with the same tenacity it displayed Thursday, opening the cross-town match with flurries of pressure and nearly scoring in the first minute.
The Wolfpack could only wonder what might have been had one of its early shots found the net.
"It would have made a big, big difference to have that kind of momentum, especially early in a game like this," Glacier coach Ryan O'Rourke said.
Flathead handled Glacier 6-0 last month, but the Wolfpack better matched the Braves' gritty play this time around.
"I think you saw that, especially out of our two outside defenders," O'Rourke said. "Both Chazz (Roberts) and Ian (Cavigli) were playing tough right from the beginning, and they never backed down the entire game.
"Bryan Edwards, the sweeper, too. It was great to see how hard they came out. You could tell they weren't intimidated."
Glacier 0 0 - 0
Flathead 2 2 - 4
FLATHEAD - Connor Cavigli (Jordan Vaughan), 29:00; Chresten Knaff, 35:00; Luke Fischer (Brian Ham), 52:00; Knaff, 65:00
Shots on goal - Gla. 8, FHS 24
Corner kicks - Gla. 2, FHS 7
Goalie saves - Gla. 13 (Kasey Haugan), FHS 7(Vaughan 6, Caleb Allen-Schmid 1)
Fouls - Gla. 14, FHS 10
Cards - None