Settling an old score

Wildcats defeat Hamilton, avenge last year's championship loss

COLUMBIA FALLS - Two years in a row?

No way.

Not if Columbia Falls High School senior Guy Smith had anything to do with it.

Hamilton stole a 2-1 overtime victory last year in Columbia Falls to capture its first ever Class A state boys soccer championship.

Saturday, Hamilton was back in Columbia Falls, but this time for a semifinal contest.

"I was thinking about last year," said Smith.

"It was so disappointing to get to the final and lose on our field. We had them back here this year, so we had to beat them."

Smith turned out to be a key player in the outcome as he scored two second-half goals and Dustin Gibson had the game's first as the Wildcats posted a convincing 3-0 victory over the Broncs.

The shutout was the ninth of the season for Columbia Falls, now 10-2-2 on the season.

Hamilton finished up 12-1-1.

"We talked about mental toughness all week," said Columbia Falls coach Peter Browne.

"I think we won the mental game today."

Columbia Falls dominated play, outshooting Hamilton on goal, 24-6.

The Wildcats finished with six corner kicks. Hamilton had none.

"We came out strong," said Browne.

"Sometimes goals can be hard to come by."

They were in the first 20 minutes of this contest as the Wildcats spent the entire time on the Hamilton end of the field. Hamilton goalie Devin Splatt was busy and tested early.

Gibson finally connected at 28 minutes with D.J. Stoneman getting the assist.

"We knew we had to come out strong," said Smith.

"I felt a little pressure this being my senior year. Everyone is looking up to us seven seniors."

Smith took a lot of pressure off the Wildcats with his first goal at 61 minutes. That put Columbia Falls in front 2-0.

Seventeen minutes later, he scored on a header off a corner kick by Travis Pete. That was Smith's 13th goal on the season.

"We had a couple of flat moments, but that was definitely the best game we have played by far," said Browne.

"They rose to the occasion and left it on the field."

Lee Kizer finished with three goalie saves for Columbia Falls.

The only negative for the victors was on the injury front as Gibson went down with a bad ankle in the final half.

"He's a key player for us," said Browne.

Gibson had a goal in last week's 3-0 first-round playoff victory over Belgrade.

Cory Pete, who missed last week's match, was back in the starting lineup. The senior, wearing a knee brace, helped organize the Wildcats offensive attack.

His status is up in the air for Saturday's state championship match. The Wildcats will face the winner of Corvallis, 5-6-1, at Billings Central, 10-1-1.

WILDCATS 3, BRONCS 0

Hamilton 0 0 - 0

Columbia Falls 1 2 - 3

CF - 28:12, Dustin Gibson (D.J. Stoneman); 61:45, Guy Smith (Jake Bengtson); 79:14, Smith (Travis Pete)

Shots on goal - Hamilton 6, Columbia Falls 24

Corner kicks - Hamilton 0, Columbia Falls 6

Goalie saves - Hamilton 9 (Devin Splatt), Columbia Falls 3, (Lee Kizer)

Fouls - Hamilton 19, Columbia Falls 10

Cards - Hamilton, 2 yellow - Zach Yeager and Christiaan Boer.