Soccer: Braves ready for play-in game with Sentinel

All it takes is one.

That’s the mantra the Flathead Braves will take on

the field when they play No. 2 seed Missoula Sentinel in a Class AA

soccer play-in game today at 3 p.m. 

The still winless Braves (0-12-0) have improved, said

coach Chris Putzler, and a win now against No. 2 seed Sentinel

(6-1-5) would send them to the playoffs despite a disappointing

regular season.

The improvement was apparent in their last two games

against Sentinel, Putzler said. The Braves lost 7-1 early in the

season and closed that gap to 3-0 when the two teams met on Oct.

8.

“They definitely have a chance,” Putzler said. “The

guys are up for it mentally, which is always a good thing. They’re

looking forward to it.”

Putzler hopes the match won’t be the last for the

team’s four seniors — Christopher Cronk, Scott Wiley, Dino Cantu

and Blake Osborne.

“All four of those guys have really worked hard this

season,” Putzler said. “I’m really happy with what they’ve done.

Chris and Scott are our captains. They’ve done a great job of

working hard and being leaders.”

The Braves will stick with a back line adjustment

that Putzler put in place for the team’s last two games against

Helena and Helena Capital.

Aside from that change, he said he hopes his team can

simply put together a solid effort that would negate a winless

season and send the Braves to the playoffs.

 “You have to look forward to one more game and do

what we can to try and win that game,” Putzler said. “The boys are

really interested in winning it. They had a really good week of

practice... They want to get the win.”

The winner will move on to the Class AA state soccer

tournament, which begins Oct. 27.