Wittman helps Central win State A soccer title

Ryan Minch is a sports staffer at The Billings Gazette.

One thing was certain heading into Saturday’s Class A state title soccer match between Laurel and Billings Central.

“We knew this was going to be a dog fight,” said Laurel head coach Aloma Jess. “We ran out of gas and they kept the pressure up all match long.”

The Rams did just that as they scored three goals in the final 25 minutes to secure a 3-0 win at Wendy’s Field at Rocky Mountain College.

“I can’t put into words what this means … what this feels like right now,” said Rams head coach Didier Ndedi, fighting back tears of joy. “These girls are amazing. I’m not an emotional person, but right now this is pretty emotional.”

Senior Mariah Wittman seconded those comments.

"I can't describe what it feels like to be a Billings Central Ram," she said. "Being a Ram, being on this team is unlike anything you can describe. It's awesome."

In what was a highly anticipated rivalry match, both teams spent much of the first half feeling each other out, resulting in a defensive struggle early.

“Our focus was to possess the ball,” Ndedi said. “They did a good job early on of keeping us out of that, but we still got some early opportunities.”

The Rams had a handful of opportunities in the first half to get on the scoreboard but Laurel's Paige O'Toole made every save needed — including a highlight-reel leaping save late in the half — to keep the game scoreless headed in to halftime.

"Paige faced more shots today than she has all season," Jess said. "She played out of her mind and kept us in the match, without a doubt the best game she has played for us."

While it was O'Toole's best game in her coaches words, it wasn't enough to stymie the Rams — namely Wittman — in the second half.

Wittman, whose status for the match wasn't known until the starting lineups were announced, sandwiched a pair of goals around Olivia Hanser's goal in the 63rd minute to seal the Rams' seventh state title in eight years.

"Having a player like Mariah on the field takes so much pressure off of everyone else," said Hanser. "Not only is she a great player, but she is an awesome teammate and we are lucky to have her on our side."

Wittman suffered a scary knee injury in last week's semifinal win over Whitefish and didn't practice during the week. 

"That's what you call a leader," Ndedi said of the team's leading scorer. "She came out today, sacrificed her well-being for her teammates and proved that she's the leader of this team. Just an incredible day for her."

Wittman, who finished her career with 16 postseason goals, including eight this season, got the Rams on the board in the 57th minute when she drilled a shot past O'Toole from the far post.

"We wanted to get that first goal so bad," she said. "But we knew we couldn't let up. We've been up on Laurel before and they come back. We knew we had to keep the pressure on."

And they did. 

Six minutes later, Julianna Arellano hit the crossbar from about 20 yards out and Hanser stuffed home the rebound to put Central up 2-0 in the 63rd minute.

Wittman capped the scoring after slamming home her own rebound on a breakaway with five minutes to play.

"Redemption is sweet," said Hanser. "We've been waiting for this moment since the second we walked off the field last year after we lost to Columbia Falls."

Central finished the season 12-0-1 and Laurel 7-5-1.

"I told the girls it's OK to be disappointed," Jess said. "But let this taste drive your fire for next season."