When we last checked in with Bigfork soccer coach Park Schara, he was giddy about his Valkyries and their 1-1 draw with Laurel on Aug. 26, 2022.  

The Locomotives had rumbled over the Vals 8-0 in a State A girls soccer semifinal in 2021; in their next meeting, some 10 months later, the teams appeared to be on equal footing.  

Schara was direct then: “We have an amazing team and should for the next couple years,” he said. 

Look at them now. 

With their 1-0 win at Livingston this past Saturday, the Valkyries advanced to the first state championship in program history. They’ll take on perennial Class A power Columbia Falls on Flip Darling Field Saturday at 5 p.m. 

“I’ve been fortunate enough to coach this group of seniors for seven years,” said Schara, who guided the Bigfork Soccer Club before taking over the high school program in 2022. That makes the Laurel rematch more or less the midpoint. 

“That’s kind of when the culture of Bigfork soccer started to change,” he said. “The confidence started growing and we consistently started to be tough competition for these powers that had ruled the state the past few years.” 

That includes Whitefish, which has played in 12 State A girls championships and won three, the last coming in 2023. The Bulldogs beat Bigfork 2-1 on Sept. 11 this season; Bigfork avenged that loss 1-0 on Oct. 2, then beat Whitefish 2-1 in a play-in game on Oct. 14. 

A 3-0 win over Stevensville followed and then came the trip to Livingston. The Vals chose to play into the wind — you may have heard Livingston is a little breezy — the first half and Paeten Gunlock scored in the sixth minute. That and something called on offside trap were enough to overpower the Rangers. 

“We were able to execute it 13 times,” Schara said. “That was seemingly frustrating to the opposing team. And very effective.” 

There were other factors. Schara starts eight seniors, a luxury for one of the smaller schools in Class A.  

“It seems unfair,” Schara said. “We’ve got 4-5 kids that would start for any other team that don’t get on the field much because we are loaded with seniors.” 

Gunlock is one; she has 16 goals and 10 assists. Brynn Bagley is another — she has 11 goals. Ione Plummer has found the net nine times.  

Irelynd Vigil is Bigfork’s senior goalkeeper; Taylor and Gracie Johnson, Peyton Benson and Delaney Kirby all start as well. Gracie Johnson is a defensive leader with two goals; Taylor Johnson is getting recruited to play in college along with Vigil and Plummer (Gunlock committed to play basketball for Carroll College in June). 

The Vals are 12-2-1, with the other loss coming to their Saturday opponent, Columbia Falls. The Wildkats won 1-0 at home on Sept. 25; the teams played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 13. 

“Here we go,” Schara said. “I always thought it was going to be Columbia Falls and Bigfork in the finals.” 

The Kats have made five trips to the championship. For the Vals, it’s another first among a list that started growing in 2022. No matter what happens Saturday, Bigfork is one of those soccer powers.  

With sophomores Gwenne Lustig and Sofie Albiero, junior Mickie Anderson and freshman Taite Welch combining for 21 goals this season, well, the Vals should still be amazing for the next couple of years. 

Reach Fritz at 758-4463 or at [email protected].