Valkyries punch ticket to state title match with 1-0 win over Livingston

A first-half strike from Paeten Gunlock and a relentless defensive effort propelled the Bigfork Valkyries past Livingston 1-0 on Saturday, earning a spot in the Class A state championship match.

"I would say this is new territory for Bigfork High School," Bigfork Head Coach Park Schara said. "I would also say, for these girls I've been coaching, this isn't new territory for them in terms of competition and life in soccer. They have been in high-level games all their life in club and different arenas."

It will be the Bigfork Girls Soccer team's first state title game appearance, though it has made semi-final appearances before. Gunlock broke the scoreless deadlock in the 34th minute, finishing a cross from Taite Welch to give the Valkyries the only goal they would need.

"That game was won with maturity," Schara said. "We figured we would play into the wind in the first half because that wind would pick up, and it did."

From there, Bigfork’s defense — anchored by goalkeeper Ireland Vigil — shut the door. Vigil turned away all seven shots she faced to record the clean sheet, while the back line and midfield consistently intercepted passes and cleared dangerous chances.

"When the half changed, the wind picked up and the ball would pick up speed," Schara said. "We used the offside trap very well, I think we are the only team that runs that old school tactic, but it works for us."

The Valkyries kept steady pressure on the Park defense, firing 10 shots on goal and earning four corner kicks in the win.

Bigfork will now play Columbia Falls in the MHSA State Championship Game on the WildKats home field on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m.

Schara praised his eight seniors, Brynn Bagley, Delaney Kirby, Gracie Johnson, Ione Plummer, Irelynd Vigil, Paeten Gunlock, Peyton Benson, and Taylor Johnson, for the season they've had and their accomplishments. 

"We had eight seniors on the roster, and the unspoken goal is always to go and win a state championship," Schara said. "I think every team has that hope, and as the season unwinds, some of those hopes are broken."

About a third of the way into this season, Schara said it felt like they weren't sure what to expect, but then the players started clicking, and a state championship became a reality. The Valkries started playing at a higher level and ironed out the kinks.

Being good friends with Columbia Falls Head Coach Thomas Clark, Schara said the two would talk quite often about how they firmly believed that the Wildkats and Bigfork were the two best teams.

"I think our nerves would be a little bit more if we played someone else in the championship game," Schara said. "But we’ve been in so many tight battles with Columbia Falls, so it's something we expected. It's kind of like we're going home. They don't beat us 10 out of 10 times and we don't beat them 10 out of 10 times."

Bigfork tied Columbia Falls earlier this year and lost due to a penalty kick. Meaning a tight battle is expected in the championship tilt.

"We know that if we were to win a state title, it wouldn't feel like we have won a state title without playing them," Schara said. "It will be more meaningful if we do it with Columbia Falls on the other side. They're the best." The respect between programs and a short bus ride to the championship game mean this will be a battle with plenty of connections for a state title. And the Bigfork community has really stepped up.

"It's gonna be a really good game," Schara said. "It's the two teams that should be there, and I think the game will reflect that. Bigfork is a small community, I think we're one of the smallest schools in Class A, so we have significantly fewer athletes to put together teams. Our community, however, really shows up. We have quite a following and it's always surprising to see how many people show up and who is invested in these girls."