Flathead girls boot Sentinel

KALISPELL - The Bravettes got an extra day of rest and practice when smoke from Missoula-area wildfires forced their match with Missoula Sentinel to be moved to Kalispell.

It showed Wednesday as Flathead's defense put on an impressive performance and the team topped Missoula Sentinel 2-1 in a Class AA Western Division showdown.

Sentinel took 19 shots on goal but were turned away again and again as Flathead's junior goalkeeper Payton Pietron amassed 17 saves.

"The nice thing was there were very few real, direct, threatening shots and the defense stepped up and really got between the ball and the goal and put a lot of pressure on their forwards," Flathead coach Scott Warnell said.

Senior Brittany Earnest struck first for Flathead with a goal in the fifth minute with an assist by Joey Thiel. Sentinel's Trae Rocheleau tied it up in the 43rd minute, but the deadlock wouldn't last long.

Flathead sophomore Paige Birky broke the tie for good with a score off an assist by Marti Penrod in the 46th minute.

"It's a great win for us," Warnell said. "Sentinel is very well-coached and was predicted number one in the west this year. To pull off the win at home was great."

Flathead (2-1-2) plays at Missoula Hellgate Tuesday.

Flathead 1 1 - 2

Sentinel 0 1 - 1

MISSOULA SENTINEL - Trae Rocheleau, 43:00.

FLATHEAD - Brittany Earnest (Joey Thiel) 5:00; Paige Birky (Marti Penrod), 46:00.

Shots - Sentinel 19, Flathead 9

Saves - Sentinel 6 (D.J., Reinhardt), Flathead 17 (Payton Pietron)

Corners - Sentinel 4, Flathead 2

Fouls - Sentinel 6, Flathead 10 Cards - none

Boys' soccer

Sentinel 7, Flathead 1

KALISPELL - The Braves played well in the first half but couldn't quell Missoula Sentinel's sustained offensive firepower and fell 7-1.

Flathead's defense held Sentinel scoreless until the 23rd minute when Trevor Powell netted the first goal of the game. Erik Muskett scored a minute later to put Sentinel ahead 2-0.

The Braves struck back in the 29th minute with a goal by Christopher Cronk. Blake Osborne provided the assist.

"It was just a great goal for Cronk and Blake," Flathead coach Chris Putzler said. "It's a goal that was scored because of hard work and a good effort."

Missoula entered halftime with a 2-1 advantage and then returned to the locker room and expanded the lead with five goals by four different players.

Sentinel sent 21 shots at Flathead goalkeeper Dino Cantu, who had five saves.

"We had a pretty good first half but it was kind of a letdown in the second halt," Putzler said.

The Braves (0-5-0) play Tuesday at Missoula Hellgate.

Sentinel 2 5 - 7

Flathead 1 0 - 1

SENTINEL - Trevor Powell, 23:00; Erik Muskett, 24:00; Quinn Andrews, 43:00; Adam Mickelson, 57:00; Raul Gomez, 66:00; Gomez (Nick Propp), 71:00; Clint Mendenhall, 76:00

FLATHEAD - Christopher Cronk (Blake Osborne), 29:00.

Shots - Sentinel 21, Flathead 4

Saves - Sentinel 3 (Joshua Pannell), Flathead 5 (Dino Cantu)

Corners - Sentinel 9, Flathead 0

Fouls - Sentinel 3, Flathead 10

Cards - Sentinel 0, Flathead 1 yellow