Wolfpack shoots past Braves in soccer

The Wolfpack delivered an emphatic statement to its crosstown rival, wiping away more than two years of frustration with a dominating 3-1 win against Flathead on a rainy and cold Thursday night at Glacier High School.

Rohit Tappeta scored once in each half and the Glacier defense held Flathead without a shot on frame for the first 35 minutes in a one-sided affair that snapped a four-match Braves unbeaten streak in the series. The Wolfpack’s last win against Flathead was a 1-0 victory on Sept. 4, 2014.

“It feels really great,” Tappeta said. “The past two games (Flathead wins) they got us, but this is a good way to come back. I really think we took it to them today.”

Glacier (6-7-1 overall, 5-6-1 Western AA) led 1-0 after Tappeta scored in the 29th minute but that was all in the first half, despite the Wolfpack putting eight shots on goal against just one for the Braves. The final margin in shots on goal was 12-4 and Glacier keeper Andrew Lorenc was hardly tested, being beaten only on an own goal in the 55th minute with the lead already 3-0.

“We possessed the ball well, played to feet, never panicked,” Glacier coach Ryan Billiet said. “The biggest adjustment today was winning balls out of the air … we got ourselves going forward and that’s where these guys are dangerous. We finished a couple opportunities and we got going and never stopped.”

The win vauled the Wolfpack into fourth place in the seven-team Western AA, although Glacier will be holding its breath Saturday when the league’s other six teams play their final regular season matches. With its regular season complete, Glacier has 16 points, one more than both Flathead and Helena Capital, who are tied for fifth.

The Braves (5-5-3, 4-4-3) will host second-place Missoula Sentinel on Saturday at noon, knowing a win could leapfrog them as high as third in the standings.

Flathead coach Nate Evans, however, knows it will take a better performance next time out to get points against a strong Spartans team.

“[Thursday] was the flattest game we’ve played all season,” he said. “It’s a good reminder that it’s really hard to keep momentum.

“We’ve got a good team in Sentinel on Saturday and we’ve got a postseason game we’re looking at. Glacier, give them credit, they had some really good individual performances in the midfield. This is a good moment for our guys to reflect and regroup and get back on pace.”

Flathead had been unbeaten (4-0-3) in its last seven matches before Thursday’s loss.

Tappeta potted Glacier’s second goal less than a minute into the second half, taking a feed from Tyler Keller and before beating Braves keeper Micah Bucy. The junior now has four goals and a team-leading 14 points this season.

“He’s fantastic when he’s 1v1,” Billiet said of Tappeta. “We just need to do the work getting him the ball when he’s got space and he made some good decisions, played to feel, played simple, and when he had isolation he did what he does best.”

“It’s the old buddy goal thing,” Tappeta said of finding the net against the Braves and players he competes with outside of the prep season. “Just scoring against your mates, it’s great.”

Keller added the third Wolfpack goal in the 54th minute. Bucy made nine saves in goal for the Braves. Glacier’s win improves its record to 12-6-2 all-time against Flathead.

Flathead 0 1 — 1

Glacier 1 2 — 3

GLA — Rohit Tappeta (Ryan Symmes), 29:00

GLA — Tappeta (Tyler Keller), 41:00

GLA — Keller (Connor Griffin), 54:00

FLT — Glacier own goal, 55:00

Shots on goal — Flathead 4, Glacier 12. Saves — Flathead 9 (Micah Bucy), Glacier 4 (Andrew Lorenc). Corner kicks — Flathead 3, Glacier 4. Fouls — Flathead 19, Glacier 14. Cards — Yellow: Glacier 1.