United teams look for Montana Cup gold

It wasn’t a record-setting regular season by any means for the Hi-Line United U19 co-ed soccer team, but as the two-time defending state champions, all eyes will still be on the United this weekend at the state tournament.

Today through Sunday, the Montana Cup state soccer tournament will be played at the Siebel Soccer Complex in Great Falls. The United will be looking for a third consecutive state title.

But another state cup isn’t going to be an easy task for the United.

This year can safely be named a rebuilding season for head coach Briayan Flores’ United. They won just two divisional games this season, and enter the weekend as a less-than-favorable seed. And with just three seniors on the roster this year, they aren’t even considered a favorite to win it all. Instead, senior-laden teams like Sidney, Big Timber and Laurel have gained the early nod to take home the title this weekend.

But once at state, the records are reset. And last season, the No. 3 United went on a great run, and defeated Big Timber in the chipper

“It’s funny,” Flores said. “At the state tournament you never know what is going to happen. Last year we were a No. 3 seed, and we ended up winning it all. And Laurel was a No. 1 seed, and they lost out on the first day. You just never know what is going to happen. It is intense at state, and every team comes in with a different mentality. We are at the bottom of the seeding so we know we have to go down there and play very well.”

Today the United will face two very tough opponents. Hi-Line will begin the weekend against a growing rival in Big Timber, and will close out day one against Laurel.

Taking it one game at a time, the United must first get past Big Timber, a team that swept the United in two games during the season. The first time around the United lost 3-1, and the second time around it was somewhat closer, but still a 2-1 loss.

“That first game is going to be an intense,” Flores said. “That is who we went up against in the championship last year, and they added three kids who have really come out of nowhere, and who are incredible soccer players. But we have a chance, and like I said, you never know what can happen. We hope it will set the tone for the entire tournament.”

Elijah David, Desmond Fialkosky and Angelo Flores highlight the experienced players on the roster this year, but David is still young himself. The three will have to play very well, though, if they hope to find any team success.

“This year we are rebuilding,” coach Flores said. “Starting from the ground up. We have some returning players, but they are still young. My son (Angelo Flores) and Desi (Fialkosky) are the only ones who have been here, but we also have a lot of freshmen and sophomores. They want to be here, but it takes time to get them where we want them to be. Soccer is mental, and it has taken up until right now for what we have been doing this year to kick in. It will come together by next year, but we are hoping it comes together for this weekend.”

All state cup soccer action will take place in Great Falls this weekend, and the U19 United will not be traveling alone.

Head coach of the U19 girls team, Hongmanie Nachampassak, and head coach of the U14 co-ed team, Danielle Woods will also lead their teams into Great Falls this weekend. Both teams have been climbing the competition ladder over the last several seasons and are still attempting to cement their spot as solid programs. Theirs will be a couple of bumpy roads this weekend, but both the U14 coed and U19 girls United teams will also look for state success.