Flathead, Big Sky split in soccer
<p>Flathead Braves goal keeper Clark Seaman makes a diving save Monday afternoon during Western AA soccer action with Missoula Big Sky at Kidsports Complex.</p>
<p>Flathead's Jaclyn Rauthe (11) makes a play on the ball Monday afternoon during the Bravettes’ Western AA soccer match with Missoula Big Sky at Kidsports Complex. </p>
A dramatic finish by the Bravettes gave Flathead a Western AA soccer split with Missoula Big Sky on Monday at Kidsports Complex.
The day opened with the FHS boys on the pitch first, falling to the Eagles 5-0.
The girls followed with Jaclyn Rauthe’s goal in the 80th minute giving the Bravettes a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Big Sky had tied the match two minutes earlier on a goal by Lacey Farris.
“I like the way it ended, but I’m not happy with how we played the entire game,” Flathead girls coach Scott Warnell said.
“The kids battled hard and were able to finish out the game to get the victory.”
The win lifts FHS’ record to 4-3-0.
The game-winning goal for Rauthe was her second of the match. She found the back of the next at 54 minutes to tie it at 1.
Stephanie Wilson put the Bravettes up 2-1 with her goal at 65 minutes.
“We were up 2-1, doing a pretty good job controlling the ball,” Warnell said.
“Big Sky was putting pressure on it. We gave up the ball in the midfield, they made a nice pass through our defense and put a good play on goal (to tie it).”
On the game winner ...
“It was off a set play,” Warnell said.
“Malia (Ozegovich) played a long ball to Stephanie Wilson, who controlled it and went to the goal. There was a big scrum there and Jackie (Rauthe) one-touched it in for a nice winning goal.”
The shot was from 10-yards out.
“Big Sky battled hard to keep it out, we battled hard to get it in,” Warnell said.
In boys action, Big Sky put the game out of reach with four goals in the final half.
Big Sky outshot Flathead 25-9. Flathead’s Clark Seaman had 13 keeper saves.
“He’s doing a pretty good job keeping the number (final score) lower than it could be,” FHS boys coach Chris Putzler said.
Putzler said Andrew Wilson also played well at stopper.
“He works hard, plays physical. He’s a difference maker for sure.”
The loss drops Flathead to 0-6-1 on the season.
“I credit Big Sky,” Putzler said.
“They played good, patient soccer. They kept us chasing.”
This match was originally scheduled for Friday in Missoula, but was postponed because of unhealthy air quality.
The Oct. 4 matchup between Big Sky and Flathead, originally scheduled for Kidsports Complex, will now be played in Missoula.
Flathead’s next outing — boys and girls — is Saturday with the second crosstown battle of the season at Glacier. Boys play at 10 a.m. with the girls on the field at noon.
In the first crosstown contests of the fall on Sept. 1 at Kidsports Complex, the Bravettes won 2-1 while the Wolfpack boys prevailed 3-2.
Girls
Big Sky 1 1 — 2
Flathead 0 3 — 3
MISSOULA BIG SKY — Kayla McCampbell, 11:00; Lacey Farris, 78:00
FLATHEAD — Jaclyn Rauthe (Monica White), 54:00; Stephanie Wilson, 65:00; Rauthe (Wilson), 80:00
Shots on goal — Big Sky 10, Flathead 17
Corner kicks — Big Sky 0, Flathead 2
Goalie saves — Big Sky 6 (Cammie Hicks), Flathead 6 (Payton Pietron)
Fouls — Big Sky 5, Flathead 4
Cards — None
Boys
Big Sky 1 4 — 5
Flathead 0 0 — 0
MISSOULA BIG SKY — Miguel Gutierrez, 12:00; Jan Heinzer, 44:00; Sam McKay, 57:00; Tristan Powers, 79:00; Gutierrez (Powers), 80:00
Shots on goal — Big Sky 25, Flathead 9
Corner kicks — Big Sky 2, Flathead 2
Goalie saves — Big Sky 6 (Nathan Mahler), Flathead 13 (Clark Seaman)
Fouls — Big Sky 6, Flathead 7
Cards — None