AA soccer: Glacier girls edge Flathead
Olivia Malchi doesn’t waste opportunities on the pitch.
In the right place at the right time, Malchi’s goal in the 67 minute of Thursday’s crosstown soccer match proved to be the game-winner as the Glacier Wolfpack held on for a 1-0 victory over the Flathead Bravettes.
Freshman forward Ellie Stevens’ cross looked to be heading right for the hands of a diving Zoe Zander, the Flathead keeper, but Zander closed her fists and punched the cross out toward the top of the box and right at the feet of the charging Malchi, who rolled her shot into the back of the net.
“Coach just drilled it into us ‘Always follow on the shot; always follow up on the goalie,’” Malchi said.
“We just made sure to do that and we got ourselves a goal. Anyone could have done it, really.”
After a scoreless first half, Malchi’s goal came in between flurries from the Flathead offense. The Bravettes tallied four shots in the first seven minutes of the second half to swing the momentum in their favor after Glacier controlled the possession in the first 45 minutes.
“Glacier came out and played really well. I thought they controlled the possession more than we did in the first half,” Flathead coach Cory Wilson said.
“There were a good 15 minutes where we were defending a lot, but we responded well in the second half and came out hard. I felt like we controlled the second half and our opportunities represent that. At the end of the day they got the bounce back.”
It was after the deficit that Flathead gained a sense of urgency.
Looking for the equalizer, senior Monica White took a free kick for the Bravettes with just 10 minutes remaining in the match. Her curling shot sailed just over the left corner of the net.
In the final two minutes, Flathead was awarded a corner kick. Senior Meredith Wilson launched her cross that somehow found the ground between a host of players tussling in the box. The ball found the foot of Zoe Loudermilk, but her shot missed wide right and Glacier held on for the victory.
“We had some great possessions in the first half,” Glacier coach Brenden Byrd said.
“I think it went to our head a little bit, and Flathead wasn’t going to give up. They were going to try to find the back of the net. They gave it everything they had. It was really an outstanding performance for both teams.”
The Bravettes outshot the Wolfpack 16-12, but Glacier keeper, senior Amy Braig, finished with 10 saves for the shutout.
“She’s just a solid keeper,” Byrd said.
“We keep working her and getting her confidence up of stopping that ball and she just did an outstanding job with it.”
Flathead will look to rebound on Saturday when it hosts Missoula Hellgate.
Glacier will travel to Helena Capital and Helena High next week.
Flathead 0 0 — 0
Glacier 0 1 — 1
G — Olivia Malchi, unassisted
Shots on goal — Flathead 16, Glacier 12. Saves — Flathead 6 (Zoe Zander), Glacier 10 (Amy Braig). Corner kicks — Flathead 3, Glacier 0. Cards — none.