AA soccer: Flathead boys upset Sentinel on Eyestad's second-half goal
Hansen Eyestad got out in front on a counter attack and slotted a goal past the keeper to lift Flathead to a 1-0 upset victory over Missoula Sentinel in a Western AA boys soccer match on Saturday at Kidsports Complex.
Getting free in transition after a scoreless draw in the first 50 minutes, Colter Goss found Eystad one-on-one with the keeper to give Flathead (6-5-3, 5-4-3 Western AA) the only tally of the game against the Spartans, the second seed out of the Western conference.
The goal broke what was an evenly-matched game that saw the Braves outshoot Sentinel 11-7, but take only one corner kick to the SpartansÆ five. Each team also picked up 13 fouls and two yellow cards.
ôHad a couple of great chances in the game,ö Flathead coach Nate Evans said of EystadÆs effort in the contest.
ôTheyÆre a very good team. Our boys showed what they can do when they play the way they should play. IÆm very proud of the team effort. Every player contributed and had a great game today.ö
With the win, Flathead sealed its first winning season since 2008 and claimed the fourth seed in state play-ins this week. The Braves will host Glacier in that match at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Kidsports.
Glacier beat Flathead 3-1 last week in the last matchup between the two teams. It is the only loss in the second half of the season for the Braves.
Sentinel 0 0 ù 0
Flathead 0 1 ù 1
FùHansen Eystad (Colter Goss), 50Æ
ShotsùSentinel 7, Flathead 11. SavesùSentinel 3, Flathead 4 (Micah Bucy). Corner kicksùSentinel 5, Flathead 1. FoulsùSentinel 13, Flathead 13. Yellow CardsùSentinel 2, Flathead 2.
Girls
Sentinel 6, Flathead 2
Syd Stelle scored four goals, three staight in the opening half in the span of 22 minutes, as Missoula Sentinel spilled Flathead in a Western AA match at Kidsports Complex.
Sentinel led 3-0 at the half.
Flathead (0-14-0, 0-12-0 Western AA) scored twice in the second half ù Kelsey Gillespie at 48 minutes and Shayenn Thompson, on a penalty kick, at 64 minutes.
ôTwo (goals) today, that was exciting for us,ö Flathead coach Jenni Sipe said.
ôThis is great momentum for us going into the playoffs. A good turn for us.ö
Sentinel beat Flathead, which has had trouble scoring this fall, earlier in the season, 5-1.
ôOh goodness, weÆve improved every game we have played,ö Sipe said.
This was the regular-season finale for both teams.
Flathead, the seventh seed, will play at Glacier, the sixth seed, on Tuesday at 3 p.m. in a postseason loser-out match. The winner moves on to state play-in action.
Glacier won both regular-season meetings with the Bravettes, 6-1 and 4-0.
Missoula Sentinel 3 3 ù 6
Flathead 0 2 ¡ù 2
S ù Syd Steele (Emma Krebsbach), 10:00
S ù Steele, Bekah Joy, 23:00
S ù Steele, Quinn Peacock, 32:00
F ù Kelsey Gillespie, 48:00
S ù Emma Hietala, Steele, 52:00
F ù Shayenn Thompson penalty kick, 64:00
S ù Steele, Peacock, 70:00
S ù Jill Madsen, Caldwell, 72:00
Shots on goal ù Sentinel 24, Flathead 18; Goalie saves ù Sentinel 16 (Bekah Joy), Flathead 19 (Aaris Hill); Corner kicks ¡¡ù Sentinel 7, Flathead 1; Fouls ¡ù Sentinel 12, Flathead 5. Cards û None.