Jamestown girls soccer season ends with state quarterfinal loss to Shanley
Molly Flaherty’s two second-half goals ended Jamestown’s state run, but the Blue Jays left Bismarck with a season that lifted the program’s profile.
Molly Flaherty scored twice after halftime Thursday, and Shanley pulled away for a 3-1 win over Jamestown in a state quarterfinal at Bismarck’s Sanford Sports Complex, ending the Blue Jays’ postseason run among the final eight teams in North Dakota.
Shanley, which came in unbeaten at 11-0-4, took a 1-0 lead in the first half when Danica Clasen scored in the 25th minute. Jamestown answered the atmosphere of the state tournament stage, but the Blue Jays could not slow Shanley’s second-half surge as Flaherty found the net twice to close the door.
The loss still marked a meaningful finish for a Jamestown program that had earned its way to Bismarck by beating Century 1-0 on May 20 at Rotary Field. Gracelin Challeen scored the lone goal in the 34th minute to clinch the state berth for the Blue Jays, who entered the tournament at 9-8-1 overall and 9-5-1 in Western Dakota Association play.
Jamestown’s trip to the state quarterfinal also reflected the growth of a program that has built its résumé under head coach Colton Altringer. WDA Sports lists the Blue Jays with one conference championship, in 2017, and no state championships, which made simply reaching the state bracket a notable step for a team that spent the spring hanging around the top tier of Class A soccer.
The state tournament at the Sanford Sports Complex ran May 28-30 in an eight-team, single-elimination format with a consolation round playing to fifth place. After the quarterfinal loss, Jamestown moved to the consolation side and faced Minot on May 29. Shanley went on to beat West Fargo Sheyenne 2-0 in the semifinal and Mandan 3-0 in the final.
For Jamestown, the result ended a strong season, but it did not erase what the Blue Jays accomplished. The quarterfinal appearance kept girls soccer in the spotlight in Jamestown and Stutsman County and gave returning players a clear standard for what the program can reach again. In a spring packed with local sports, the Blue Jays spent their postseason among the state’s best, and that presence alone strengthened the program’s place in the community.
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