Carter, Wildkats stomp Belgrade

COLUMBIA FALLS - When it rains, it pours.

And those offensive flood gates finally opened late in the first half for Columbia falls during Saturday's Class A home playoff soccer match with Belgrade.

Kim Pearce scored at 37 minutes and Lisa Carter followed three minutes later, assisted by Pearce, as Columbia Falls waltzed from that point on to a 5-0 victory in first-round action.

"We had problems finishing," said Columbia Falls coach Greg Trenerry in the early going on a very slick field.

"We had lots of opportunities, but we (finally) figured it out at 37 minutes and never looked back."

Carter wound up with a hat trick on the day as she added goals at 52:00 and 62:00. She also had an assist.

Carter has now scored in every match but one for the Wildkats this season.

"I don't think we were (playing) together," said Carter until the first score.

"We weren't focused on playing. We were more focused on staying warm."

Jessica Boyer had the final score at 58:00. It was her first of the season.

Boyer followed a hard shot by Carter, which slammed into the Belgrade goalie and bounced back out, with a heads-up and well place shot into the net.

Columbia Falls, 11-2-0, and Belgrade, 5-7-0, tangled back in early September with the Wildkats prevailing in that one by the same score.

"This one was a little different," said Carter.

"They were a little more physical. We just had to be more physical back."

Columbia Falls outshot Belgrade 25-5 and held a huge edge in corner kicks, 9-1.

"I thought we played a good game," said Trenerry.

"Good passing and playing our game.

"Defense was good. Vanessa (Almanza) was good in the back. The midfield did well, too, much better at winning the ball."

Almanza had two goalie saves and Colyne Hislop had one. The shutout was the ninth of the season for Columbia Falls.

"It's nerve-racking," said Carter of the new playoff format this year.

"If you lose, you're out."

Columbia Falls is back home for the second round of the playoffs next Saturday hosting Hamilton. Hamilton beat Livingston on Saturday, 2-0.

WILDKATS 5, PANTHERS 0

Belgrade 0 0 - 0

Columbia Falls 2 3 - 5

Columbia Falls - Kim Pearce, 37:00; Lisa Carter (Pearce), 40:00; Carter (Amber Lampman), 52:00; Jessica Boyer (Carter), 58:00; Carter, 62:00.

Fouls - Belgrade 6, Columbia Falls 8; Cards - None; Shots - Belgrade 5, Columbia Falls 25; Corner kicks - Belgrade 1, Columbia Falls 9; Goalie saves - Belgrade 18 (Emma Messinger and Mari Messenger), Columbia Falls 3 (Vanessa Almanza 2, Colyne Hislop 1).

BRONCS 2, RANGERS 0

Livingston 0 0 - 0

Hamilton 0 2 - 2

Hamilton - Alisha Butler (Whitney Melton) 44:00; Megan Kahlne (Melton) 49:00

Shots - Livingston 10, Hamilton 18. Corner kicks - Livingston 5, Hamilton 10. Saves - Livingston 12 (Katherine Moody 12), Hamilton 7

(Jessica Huseby 5, Laura Moran 2). Total fouls - Livingston 5, Hamilton 9. Yellow cards - Whitefish 4, Hamilton 3. Red cards - None.

Columbia Falls blanks Livingston

By DAVID LESNICK

The Daily Inter Lake

COLUMBIA FALLS - Two quick goals by Columbia Falls coupled with a strong defensive effort carried the Wildcats to a 3-0 victory Saturday over Livingston in opening-round action of the Class A soccer playoffs.

Columbia Falls, defending state champions, dominated the action to the tune of outshooting Livingston 18-5.

"The first 10 minutes were just awesome," said Columbia Falls coach Peter Browne.

"We're capable of playing very good soccer at times."

Cory Pete, with an assist from Felipe Buzipnani, scored just five minutes into the match.

Buzipnani followed that seven minutes later with another goal and a 2-0 edge.

Guy Smith assisted on that score.

Columbia Falls did not score again until 47 minutes with Smith getting the goal and Dustin Gibson the assist.

"We struck quickly, luckily," said Columbia Falls sweeper and captain Devon Hagen.

"We tried to play it too much up the middle in the first half. The second half, we did a lot better getting it to the outside and crossing the ball in. That's what we practice all the time."

Columbia Falls, 10-0-2, and Livingston, 3-9-1, met last month with the Wildcats posting a 2-0 win. This was the sixth shutout of the season for the Wildcats.

"We need to score more goals," said Browne.

"We need to create more goal scoring opportunities and hopefully that will come."

Browne said the team made some adjustments at halftime, which resulted in better play the final 40 minutes.

"We have to focus on our game and not what the opponent is doing," he said.

"At times we're too focused on the other team."

Columbia Falls stays home for the semifinal round of the playoffs this Saturday, hosting Laurel. Laurel defeated Corvallis on Saturday, 2-1.

WILDCATS 3, RANGERS 0

Livingston 0 0 - 0

Columbia Falls 2 1 - 3

Columbia Falls - Cory Pete (Felipe Buzipnani), 5:00; Buzipnana (Guy Smith), 12:00; Smith (Dustin Gibson), 47:00.

Fouls - Livingston 5, Columbia Falls 10; Cards - None; Shots - Livingston 5, Columbia Falls 18; Corner kicks - Livingston 5, Columbia Falls 10; Goalie saves - Livingston 9 (Nick Moody), Columbia Falls 2 (Lee Kizer).

LOCOMOTIVES 2, BLUE DEVILS 1

Laurel 0 2 - 2

Corvallis 1 0 - 1

C - Clemens Stolle (penalty kick) 25:00

L - Ryan Jones 47:00; name unavailable (penalty kick) 77:00