ravettes top Skyview in SO; place 5th at state AA soccer
HELENA — All five Flathead shooters converted from the penalty spot and the Bravettes edged Billings Skyview 5-3 in a shootout to finish fifth at the Class AA state soccer tournament Saturday at Siebel Fields.
Fifth was the best Flathead could finish after an opening round loss to Great Falls C.M. Russell on Thursday.
“They came back strong the past two days after a pretty disappointing first game,” Flathead coach Cory Wilson said.
The game was tied at 1 after regulation and neither team scored during the two overtime periods. Flathead sophomore Stephanie Wilson opened the shootout with a goal and Skyview’s Abby Ketterling hit the post to open the door for the Bravettes. Seniors Jacquelyn Merrill, Paige Birky and Joey Thiel all converted to give the Bravettes a 4-3 lead and sophomore Alexa May ended it.
“It was a great conclusion to a great season,” coach Wilson said. “The girls came to the state tournament wanting to accomplish some new goals and they did that. They ended up winning eight of their last 10 games.”
Wilson said Flathead looked a little flat the first 15 minutes, but Skyview failed to capitalize and the Bravettes picked up their game as the first half wore on.
Birky netted the opening goal in the 27th minute on an assist from May, but Skyview answered three minutes before halftime when Caylin Cathey knotted the score at 1.
Flathead created a pair of dangerous scoring chances in overtime on crosses by Monica White and Thiel that found teammates’ heads at the near post, but the Skyview goalkeeper scooped up both attempts to force a penalty kick shootout.
Billings Senior edged Helena High 1-0 in the championship game on a 33rd-minute goal by Maddy Emerick. Bozeman beat CMR 2-1 in the third-place game.
Bozeman won the boys state title with a 2-0 victory over Helena High. Missoula Big Sky finished third with a 1-0 overtime win over Missoula Hellgate. Billings Senior beat Missoula Sentinel 2-1 for fifth place.
Flathead 1 0 0 0 — 1 (5)
Billings Skyview 1 0 0 0 — 1 (3)
Flat - Paige Birky (Alexa May), 27:00
Sky - Caylin Cathey, 37:00
Shootout
Flat - Stephanie Wilson, Jacquelyn Merrill, Birky, Joey Thiel, May
Sky - Taven Morrison, Cathey, Jessica Spang (Abby Ketterling unsuccessful)
Other Girls Results
Championship
Billings Senior 1 0 — 1
Helena High 0 0 — 0
Sen - Gabi Heflin (Maddy Emerick), 33:00
Shots on goal - Sen 11, HHS 11; Saves - Sen (Sarah Heard 4, Clancee Ferrin 4), HHS (Shanna Floerchinger 7); Corner kicks - Sen 5, HHS 3.
Third place
Bozeman 1 1 — 2
C.M. Russell 0 1 — 1
Boz - Katelyn Megarel, 12:00
Boz - Sydney Rollison, 50:00
CMR - Ashton Cummings, 67:00
BOYS
Championship
Bozeman 1 1 — 2
Helena High 0 0 — 0
Boz - Elias Herman (Ben Hietala), 3:00
Boz - Hietala (Herman), 70:00
Shots on goal - Boz 11, HHS 6. Saves - Boz (John Center 4), HHS (Jaden Maharg 7). Corner kicks - Boz 2, HHS 1. Yellow cards - HHS.
Third place
Missoula Big Sky 0 0 0 1 — 1
Missoula Hellgate 0 0 0 0 — 0
MBS – Stanley Underwood, 97:00
Shots on goal – Big Sky 7, Hellgate 10. Corner kicks – Big Sky 2, Hellgate 7. Saves – Big Sky 6 (Nathan Mahler), Hellgate 11 (Chaucer Larson). Total fouls – Big Sky 14, Hellgate 10. Yellow cards – Big Sky 2. Red cards – none.
Fifth place
Billings Senior 0 2 — 2
Missoula Sentinel 1 0 — 1
MS - Matt Gaub, 35:00
Sen - Mason Luse, 46:00
Sen - Luse (penalty kick), 54:00