Prep Soccer: Sentinel sneaks by Flathead
Missoula Sentinel midfielder Madison Small (4) reaches for the ball along with Flathead High School sophomore Marti Penrod (3) during Tuesday’s Western AA match at Kidsports Complex in Kalispell.
Playing catch-up in Western AA soccer, the Missoula Sentinel girls got a much-needed 3-2 victory against Flathead at Kidsports Complex on Tuesday.
The third-place Spartans (4-1-4) scored two quick goals in the first 12 minutes and added an insurance goal in the 65th minute that ended up paying off after the Bravettes (2-3-5) rallied late.
With two games left in the regular season, Sentinel is chasing Glacier (4-3-2) and Missoula Big Sky (4-0-5) for first place and an automatic state tourney berth.
Junior Chelsea Shuman scored her seventh goal of the season in the first half for Flathead and Malia Ozegovich, a freshman, notched a score with two minutes left to play.
"We had a hard time finishing again today," Flathead coach Scott Warnell said. "We battled hard through the game, but we just had a couple breakdowns that allowed Sentinel to get their goals."
Karli Kusler made 13 saves for the fifth-place Bravettes, who finish with Helena Capital (1-3-4) on the road Saturday and Big Sky at home Oct. 17.
Down the final stretch, the key for the Bravettes will be playing better as a team, cleaning up the passing game and learning to finish, Warnell said.
"If we start doing those things it will be hard for teams to beat us," he said.
Sentinel 2 1 - 3
Flathead 1 1 - 2
Sentinel - Trae Rocheleau, 2:00; Kennedy Fullbright (Maddie Simmel), 12:00; Rocheleau (Fullbright), 65:00
Flathead - Chelsea Shuman, 25:00; Malia Ozegovich, 78:00
Shots on goal - Sentinel 17, Flathead 14
Saves - Sentinel 11 (D.J. Reinhardt 9, Miranda Felde 2), Flathead 13 (Karli Kusler)
Corner kicks - Sentinel 3, Flathead 1
Total fouls - Sentinel 8, Flathead 1
Cards - None
Bigfork 1, Columbia Falls 1
BIGFORK - Bigfork freshman Kenna Hauns scored late in the second half and the Valkyries spoiled Columbia Falls' playoff hopes with a conference tie.
Third-place Columbia Falls (3-3-1 in conference, 5-4-1 overall) needed a win in order to remain in contention for the second Northern A playoff bid, which now goes to Whitefish. The playoffs start Oct. 17.
Senior goalie Danielle Morris made 12 saves for shorthanded Bigfork (1-5-1, 1-7-1).
"Danielle did a good job in goal," Bigfork coach Hauna Trenerry said. "The girls played basically the whole 80 minutes and they played as a team and they worked together well."
Danielle Deluenthal scored Columbia Falls' lone goal midway through the first half off an assist from McKenzie Reeve.
Bigfork wraps up the season on Saturday with a home match against Polson. Columbia Falls hosts Whitefish on Thursday.
Columbia Falls 1 0 - 1
Bigfork 0 1 - 1
Columbia Falls - Danielle Deluenthal (McKenzie Reeve), 14:00
Bigfork - Kenna Hauns, 52:00
Shots on goal - Columbia Falls 16, Bigfork 3
Goalie saves - Columbia Falls 2 (Niesha Thompson), Bigfork 12 (Danielle Morris)
Corner kicks - Columbia Falls 3, Bigfork 1
Fouls - Columbia Falls 6, Bigfork 8
Cards - Columbia Falls, yellow
Boys
Bigfork 4,
Stillwater Christian 3
Bigfork senior Lael Richmond scored a pair of goals and freshman Austin Jordt made 11 saves in his goalkeeper debut as the Vikings edged Stillwater Christian in a nonconference game at Kidsports Complex.
"We've been eliminated from playoff contention, but it was good to see that the boys still played hard and with a lot of heart and determination," Bigfork coach Keith Koslosky said.
Matt Killian and Alec MacCallum each added a goal apiece for Bigfork (2-5 in conference and 3-6-2 overall). MacCallum and Dillon Charlebois had assists.
Josh Bray, Jake Meerkatz and Ryan Thompson each had goals for Stillwater (5-5-2 overall).
Bigfork finishes the season with a 1 p.m. home game against Polson on Saturday. Stillwater faces Sandpoint, Idaho, on Thursday.
Bigfork 2 2 - 4
Stillwater Christian 1 2 - 3
BIGFORK - Lael Richmond, 6:00; Matt Killian (Dillon Charlebois), 39:00; Richmond (Alec MacCallum), 57:00; MacCallum (Charlebois), 60:00
STILLWATER - Josh Bray (Jeremy Curtis) 31:00; Jake Meerkatz (Curtis), 61:00; Ryan Thompson (Bray), 64:00
Shots on goal - Bigfork 8, Stillwater 21
Saves - Bigfork 11 (Austin Jordt), Stillwater 0
Corner kicks - Bigfork 7, Stillwater 2
Fouls - Bigfork 7, Stillwater 7
Cards - None
Flathead 2,
Missoula Sentinel 2
Jerrad Merrill scored a game-tying goal in the second half and the Braves fought back after being down 2-0 to tie with Sentinel in Western AA action.
Joaquin Calderon scored off an assist from Monte White just before the half and Jordan Remington made four saves for sixth-place Flathead (1-8-1).
Jordan Byland had both of the goals for seventh-place Sentinel (1-7).
Sentinel 2 0 - 2
Flathead 1 1 - 2
Sentinel - Jordan Byland (Chris Hollinger), 25:15; Byland, 30:34
Flathead - Joaquin Calderon (Monte White), 34:24; Jerrad Merrill, 56:50
Shots on goal - Sentinel 8, Flathead 5
Saves - Sentinel 6 (Brian Applegate), Flathead 4 (Jordan Remington)
Corner kicks - Sentinel 2, Flathead 2
Total fouls - Sentinel 11, Flathead 5
Cards - None