The nerves were high on the Flathead Bravettes’ sideline, which is expected with a bid to the Class AA state soccer tournament on the line, but those dissipated rather quickly.

Just 19 minutes into their first-round match against Helena Capital, fourth-seeded Flathead (5-4-3) had a 3-0 lead and cruised to a 4-0 home victory over the fifth-seeded Bruins in the rain at Kidsports Complex on Thursday.

“It was a good way to start,” Flathead coach Cory Wilson said.

“We came out with a lot of intensity, a lot of enthusiasm and the girls made the most of their scoring chances.”

The score was hardly indicative of Capital’s possession. The Bruins held an 3-0 advantage in corner kicks in the first half, and ended up with 10 shots. The Bravettes happened to convert their opportunities.

“(Capital) possessed well, better than they have in any of the three games we’ve played against Capital. We definitely made the most of our opportunities,” Wilson said.

Just seven minutes after kickoff, senior midfielder Monica White took the ball deep into the Bruins’ right corner and sent a cross intended for the head of senior forward Jaymee Siler. When the ball rolled just inside the top of the box, senior midfielder Zoe Loudermilk rolled it off Capital goalkeeper Kelsey Kerker and into the back of the net, and the rout was on.

At the 13-minute mark, junior midfielder Stephanie Wilson took an approach at a deflected ball outside the top of the penalty arc and rifled a shot just underneath the crossbar for a two-goal lead — but Wilson wasn’t finished.

Six minutes later, Wilson scored her second goal of the match on a header off a cross from Siler. Siler maneuvered to the right corner, much like the cross White sent for the Bravettes’ opening goal, and launched a curling cross to the far post where Wilson placed her header perfectly into the net.

While the torrent of goals was started by Zoe Loudermilk, sister Zina Loudermilk ended it, converting Meredith Wilson’s pass into the fourth and final Bravette goal.

From there, the defense held firm, buckling down and limiting the Bruins chances in the final 40 minutes.

Senior goalkeeper Zoe Zander stopped seven shots to earn Flathead a clean sheet and a date with the top-seeded Bozeman Hawks in Great Falls.

“I thought our team did really great,” Zander said.

“Our defense has gotten so much better over the season. They played fantastic today.”

Helena Capital     0     0     —     0

Flathead     4     0     —     0

    FLATHEAD —   Zoe Loudermilk (Monica White) 7:00; Stephanie Wilson (unassisted) 13:00; Wilson (Jaymee Siler) 19:00; Zina Loudermilk (Meredith Wilson) 32:00

    Shots on goal — Capital 10, Flathead 19; Goalie saves — Capital 12 (Kelsey Kerker), Flathead 7 (Zoe Zander). Corner kicks — Capital 3, Flathead 2. Fouls — Capital 3, Flathead 7. Cards — Capital, 1 yellow.