Missoula Hellgate rebounded from an upset loss in the opening round to eliminate Flathead High School from the Class AA girls soccer state tournament with a 3-1 win in loser-out play Friday morning at Siebel Fields in Helena.
The Bravettes (6-7-2) dropped their opening-round match to undefeated Eastern Conference champion Billings Skyview 4-2 on Thursday. Hellgate, seeded second out of the Western Conference, lost 2-1 against Billings West in Thursday’s first round.
Flathead was in the state tournament for the first time since 2014 after a remarkable season that saw the Bravettes win more times (6) than in the previous three years combined (4). Flathead thrived under first-year coach Bledy Doda, sweeping crosstown rival Glacier and routing defending state champion Helena 4-0 in a state tournament play-in match last week at Legends Stadium.
The Bravettes will graduate four seniors from the 2018 team — Aaris Hill, Elena Jimenez, Heather LaSalle and leading scorer Shayenn Thompson — but should return a solid young core that includes all-state forward Skyleigh Thompson, versatile midfielder/defender Chloe Nadeau and freshman Ellie Hawes.
The Class AA state tournament continues through Saturday.