Bravettes blank Bruins in AA soccer
Flathead coach Scott Warnell was ready to settle for a scoreless tie after 70-plus minutes of physical play on Friday.
"Both defenses were playing really well," he said.
"It was a good, hard fought game."
But at the 77 minute mark, Flathead broke the tie when Malia Ozegovich scored off an assist by Brittany Earnest to give the Bravettes a 1-0 victory over Helena Capital in Western AA soccer play.
"We got a pass to the outside to Brittany," Warnell said.
"She got a good cross to Malia ... Malia made a good near-post run, got her foot on the ball and right into the net."
That was the game winner.
"It was a very physical game," he said.
"The girls stepped up and played well."
Capital won the first meeting between the two teams 1-0.
"We were able to hold them today and get one," he said.
"Our defense and midfield played really hard. We've played 11 games and have allowed four goals. So our defense and goal keeper are playing really well," he added.
"Our midfield is really moving the ball up the field and giving us opportunities to score."
Flathead (5-1-5) hosts Helena High today 10 a.m. at Kidsports Complex.
Helena Capital 0 0 - 0
Flathead 0 1 - 1
FLATHEAD - Malia Ozegovich, (Brittany Earnest), 77:00
Shots on goal - Helena Capital 2, Flathead 6
Corner kicks - Helena Capital 1, Flathead 1
Goalie saves - Helena Capital 5 (Kyra Dorvall), Flathead 2 (Payton Pietron)
Fouls - Helena Capital 13, Flathead 11
Cards - Helena Capital 2 yellow, Flathead 2 yellow
Glacier 4,
Helena High 4
The Wolfpack came close to snapping its winless streak but settled with a draw with Helena in Western Class AA action over Glacier.
Glacier led 1-0 after a score by Anna Deleray in the 11th minute. After an equalizer by Helena's Callie Kanthact five minutes later, Glacier went ahead again with a goal by Chantel Gustine in the 32nd minute.
Kanthact struck again in the 37th minute to tie the game at halftime. Helena followed that score with two more by Shleby Pugh and Kaycee Brustkern early in the second half.
The Wolfpack fought back though. Nicole Heavirland scored in the 63rd minute and Sarah Burch followed with a goal in the 75th to make it 4-4. Gustine provided the assists for both scores.
"The girls played awesome today," Glacier coach Paul Holmgren said. "We played solidly all the way through."
"Abretia Crandell probably had the game of her life. She was all over the field making plays, both in the midfield and on top."
Glacier (0-9-2) plays its final game of the regular season today against Helena Capital.
The Wolfpack will face either Flathead or Missoula Sentinel in the first round of the playoffs next week.
"If we continue playing like this, I'm optimistic," Holmgren said.
Helena High 2 2 - 4
Glacier 2 2 - 4
HELENA - Callie Kanthact (Kaycee Brustkern), 16:00; Kanthact, 37:00; Shelby Pugh, 53:00; Brustkern, 55:00
GLACIER - Anna Deleray (Dani Crandell), 11:00; Chantel Gustine (Lauren Waldenberg), 32:00; Nicole Heavirland (Gustine), 63:00 ; Sara Burch (Gustine), 75:00
Shots - Helena 15, Glacier 10
Corner kicks - Helena 4, Glacier 4
Goalie saves - Helena 6 (Taerlar Therriault), Glacier 11 (Shaniya Carey)
Fouls - Helena 7, Glacier 4
Cards - none
Boys
Helena High 2,
Glacier 0
Two second-half goals gave Helena High the Western AA victory over Glacier.
Helena High totaled 15 shots on goal to Glacier's eight.
Corner kicks favored Helena High 4-2.
"It was a good game, actually," Glacier coach Ryan O'Rourke said.
"There are games where you win 3-0 and you don't feel like you really won. And games like today where you lose, but it felt like you played really well and it didn't feel like a 2-0 loss."
Sean Peters had 15 keeper saves for Glacier.
"Overall, we moved the ball well," O'Rourke said.
"The guys worked hard for all 80 minutes. The main difference ... we didn't capitalize on our opportunities and Helena did."
Glacier (4-4-3) wraps up regular-season play today at home with Helena Capital at 10 a.m.
Helena High 0 2 - 2
Glacier 0 0 - 0
HELENA HIGH - Dylan Allen (Jaden Mahorg), 49:00; Mac Nelson, 69:00
Shots on goal - Helena High 15, Glacier 8
Corner kicks - Helena High 4, Glacier 4
Goalie saves - Helena High 2 (Will Poole), Glacier 15 (Sean Peters)
Fouls - Helena High 14, Glacier 9
Cards - Helena High 1 yellow, Glacier 1 yellow
Helena Capital 4, Flathead 1
The Braves kept the score tight early but fell victim to Helena Capital's three goals in the final 40 minutes of a Western AA match.
"Overall, I leave the game pretty satisfied," Flathead coach Chris Putzler said. "I felt like we played well ... I think we played a more complete game than we have."
Monte White scored the Braves' only goal in the 34th minute after a pass from Christopher Cronk to tie the game at 1-1.
But Helena Capital's Caleb Sparks put his team ahead with his second goal of the game just before halftime.
Collin Shull tacked on another score one minute into the second half and his teammate Riley Smith netted a goal in the 47th minute.
Capital outshot Flathead 21-9. Dino Cantu had seven saves for the Braves.
Flathead (0-11-0) plays top-ranked Helena High today in its final game of the regular season.
Capital 2 2 - 4
Flathead 1 0 - 1
CAPITAL - Caleb Sparks, 18:00; Sparks, 40:00; Collin Shull, 41:00; Riley Smith, 47:00
FLATHEAD - Monte White (Christopher Cronk), 34:00.
Shots - Capital 21, Flathead 9
Corner kicks - Capital 10, Flathead 3
Goalie saves - Capital 5 (Connor Fitzpatrick), Flathead 7 (Dino Cantu)
Fouls - Capital 4, Flathead 6
Cards - none