Bravettes in state soccer consolation final; Glacier boys eliminated
GREAT FALLS - As Flathead head coach Scott Warnell put it, "it was a very emotional day" on Friday.
The Bravettes took the defending state champs into double overtime before losing 1-0 in the 94th minute.
The state's top scorer, Savannah Witt, scored the game-winner and Billings West advanced to today's Class AA girls state soccer championship. For Flathead, it only had two hours rest and then faced a familiar foe, Missoula Sentinel, in an afternoon loser-out match.
"The kids just battled back hard and really were able to get their heads back in the game," Warnell said.
With four minutes left in a tie game, Brittany Earnest scored the game-winning goal and the Bravettes defeated Sentinel 1-0 for the first time this season, advancing to today's consolation game. Flathead will play Helena Capital at 10 a.m.
"It took awhile for our girls to get back mentally and physically into that game," Warnell said of the Sentinel contest following the loss to West.
Western AA's top-seeded Sentinel had beaten Flathead twice this season, but Earnest's goal off an assist from Jacquelyn Merrill made the difference this time.
Karli Kusler played impressively, the coach said. The senior keeper, who was injured in the second game, allowed only one goal in just under 100 minutes of action.
"Our defense stepped up huge," Warnell said. "(West) had a few good shots but we contested almost everything they had. Karli had a really good game."
Flathead defeated Capital twice already this season.
Bozeman eliminated the Glacier boys 3-0. The Wolfpack end the season 4-10-1.
The Helena Capital boys will play Helena for the state championship today at 2 p.m. Bozeman and Billings Senior will battle in the consolation game.
Billings Senior and Billings West will play in the girls finale at noon.
Match statistics for Flathead and Glacier were not available.
State AA Soccer Tourney
Girls
Friday's Scores
Morning loser out
Helena Capital 4, C.M. Russell 1
Missoula Sentinel 2, Missoula Big Sky 0
Semifinals
Billings Senior 2, Bozeman 1, so
Billings West 1, Kalispell Flathead 0, ot
Afternoon loser-out
Flathead 1, Sentinel 0
Today's Shedule
Third place
10 a.m. - Capital vs. Flathead
Championship
Noon - Senior vs. West
Boys
Friday's Scores
Morning loser-out
Missoula Big Sky 3, C.M. Russell 2, so
Bozeman 3, Glacier 0
Semifinals
Helena Capital 3, Billings West 1
Helena 1, Billings Senior 0
Afternoon loser-out
Bozeman 1, West 0
Senior 3, Big Sky 2, so
Today's Schedule
Third place
10 a.m. - Bozeman vs. Senior
Championship
2 p.m. - Helena vs. Helena Capital