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Black and orange prevailed on Halloween at the state soccer tournament in Kalispell, when the Flathead boys achieved a rare feat. The Braves’ 3-2 overtime victory over the Bozeman Hawks gave the squad their third state title this decade.
“They are really an exceptional team,” said head coach Tom McFarlane of the 1998 Braves. “They have the great combination of good chemistry and real skilled players.”
Flathead also had an advantage in fan base. The student section rivaled the size of that at basketball games — packing the bleachers and standing room areas.
“It was so exciting,” said seniors Katherine Elgin and Cheryl Steenson. “You felt like you were a part of the game, like you helped the team win.”
Play was intense as the Braves came out hard and scored in the eighth minute on a shot by junior Bernie Babcock. The Hawks then scored twice to lead the game 2-1 with 10 minutes to go. Sophomore Jesse Mahugh then evened the score with a diving header.
At 2-all, the teams were thrown into two 10-minute overtimes. Eight minutes into the first half, senior Brandon Judge passed the ball neatly into the back of the net. The Braves dog-piled near the Bozeman goal in celebration while the fans roared their approval.
“I didn’t really expect the goal,” said Judge. “I was in disbelief.”
Flathead was able to hold their lead for the remaining 12 minutes. When time ran out, fans surged from the sidelines, encircling the team on the field.
“It was great to win state on our home field,” said senior Kevin Winkel. “When the fans rushed out on the field, it made it twice as exciting. It was a great way to end my last soccer season.” |
