Wildcats claim third title

The Daily Inter Lake

Columbia Falls defeats Billings Central 2-1 in OT

BILLINGS - There's nothing odd about Columbia Falls winning state Class A boys soccer titles.

It just happens on the odd years, so it seems.

Jake Bengtson's overtime goal gave Columbia Falls a 2-1 victory over Billings Central Saturday afternoon in the title game at Rocky Mountain College.

"Every other year," said Columbia Falls coach Peter Browne.

"That's pretty good. We've been lucky, we've had good athletes."

Columbia Falls, state champs in 2001 and 2003, were runners-up a year ago, losing to Hamilton in the title match in overtime. The Wildcats finished this season with a 11-2-2 record. Billings Central wound up 11-2-1.

Guy Smith, on a penalty kick, put Columbia Falls up 1-0 just 28 minutes into the march.

"We played really well in the first half," said Browne.

"We had some other chances, but didn't capitalize on them."

In the final half, Browne said the team had its moments.

"The last 20 minutes, just hanging on," said Browne.

"Lost our composure, let them come at us. I was hoping the clock would save us."

But Billings Central knocked in the tying goal at 79 minutes on a shot by David Leslie.

That forced overtime.

"Came off the field pretty down," said Browne.

"We kinda regrouped. I just told them we had worked so hard that we can't let this one slip away. We had a little heart-to-heart."

In the first 10-minute overtime period, Billings Central had a handball outside the area. Jake Bengtson followed that with the game-winning goal.

"He hit a beautiful ball, bent it into the corner a little bit," said Browne.

"A great goal for Jake. I'm pretty happy for him. He wanted this one pretty bad as well as all the seniors (Bengtson, Smith, Cory Pete, Bobby Opp, Alex Branch, Lee Kizer and Andrew Dahlen)."

Browne said the Wildcats controlled the second 10-minute OT to secure the win.

"We took care of business pretty well," said Browne.

"We controlled the pace of the game."

Browne said Billings Central did not have a lot of "quality shots on goal, but Lee (Kizer) was solid for us. He had a great postseason.

"I'm really happy for the seven seniors," added Brown.

"They've worked hard for four years. They are a class act. They get it done in the classroom and on the field."

WILDCATS 2, RAMS 1

Columbia Falls 1 0 1 - 2

Billings Central 0 1 0 - 1

Columbia Falls - 1, Guy Smith (penalty kick), 28:00. 2, Jake Bengtson (unassisted), 86:00

Billings Central - 1, David Leslie (Joe Schmechel), 79:00.

Shots on goal - Columbia Falls 17, Billings Central 19

Corner kicks - NA

Goalie saves - Columbia Falls 11 (Lee Kizer), Billings Central 10 (Nolan Lopez)