Flathead boys drop soccer opener

The Daily Inter Lake

MISSOULA - The defending Class AA state champion Flathead High School boys' soccer team opened its season on the wrong end of a 3-2 heartbreaker.

The Braves rallied from a 2-0 second-half deficit before Missoula Hellgate scored the winning goal in the 79th minute of a Western AA match.

Both teams had good early looks, but went to halftime in a scoreless tie. Ben Corwin gave Hellgate the lead one minute into the second half before Bryan Nickerson made it 2-0 in the 55th minute. Garion Holian had the winning goal.

Flathead's Connor Cavigli scored an unassisted goal in the 58th minute before striking again two minutes later off a Cameron Clevidence assist.

"It was a good, strong battle," Flathead coach Eric Sawtelle said. "Both teams came out playing very physical. It was a high-intensity game."

Flathead 0 2 - 2

Hellgate 0 3 - 3

Flathead - Connor Cavigli, 58:00; Cavigli (Cameron Clevidence), 60:00

Hellgate - Ben Corwin (Lucas Matelien), 41:00; Bryan Nickerson, 55:00; Garion Holian (Corwin), 79:00

Shots on goal - FHS 15, Hel. 15

Corner kicks - FHS 3, Hel. 2

Goalie saves - FHS 6 (Caleb Allen-Schmidt), Hel. 5 (Willow Skyrud)

Total fouls - FHS 15, Hel. 3

Cards - None

Girls

Flathead 1, Missoula Hellgate 1

MISSOULA - Meghan O'Connell scored off an Ally Krautbauer assist as Flathead rallied to a season-opening Western AA tie.

Hellgate took a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute before the Bravettes drew even in the 26th minute.

Flathead out-shot Hellgate 14-13 as Bravettes goalkeeper Danika Pietron tallied eight saves.

"I thought (the Bravettes) played really well, being the first game after three weeks of practice," Flathead coach Scott Warnell said. "The first game, you never know how things are going to shake out, and the girls came out, played with a lot of intensity and played hard against a good Hellgate team."

Flathead 1 0 - 1

Hellgate 1 0 - 1

Flathead - Meghan O'Connell (Ally Krautbauer), 26:00

Hellgate - NA, 6:00

Shots on goal - FHS 14, Hel. 13

Corner kicks - FHS 6, Hel. 7

Goalie saves - FHS 8 (Danika Pietron), Hel. NA (Molly Callahan-Baumstark)

Total fouls - FHS 10, Hel. 9

Cards - None