Wildcats knock off Rams

The Daily Inter Lake

BILLINGS - Make that three straight soccer victories over Billings Central.

And all are in postseason action.

Columbia Falls was forced to go to a shoot-out this time with the Central Rams, posting a thrilling 4-3 opening-round victory in the Class A playoffs on Friday at Wendy's Field on the campus of Rocky Mountain College.

Both teams were deadlocked at 1-all at the end of regulation play and neither team scored in the two 10-minute overtime periods.

That forced the shoot-out, where Columbia Falls prevailed.

"It's OK when you win, it's a terrible way to lose," Columbia Falls coach Peter Browne said of a shoot-out.

"We lost in a shoot-out in the semis one year to Hamilton.

"(Columbia Falls goalie) George (Kimerly) just came up really big in the shoot-out. He was really dialed in, made some key stops. He did a fine job."

Columbia Falls missed its first attempt in the shoot-out, but nailed the next four. Hitting those were Chase Jackson, Grant Getts, Josh McNeil and DJ Stoneman.

Billings Central connected on its first three attempts, but failed on the final two, which were blocked by Kimerly.

"It was a big relief," Browne said to leave Billings with the victory.

"We played a really good first half. We communicated. It was just a great team effort. We just let them in, again, in the second half. We collectively let down and they took it to us."

Columbia Falls defeated the Rams in the 2003 semifinals and in the 2005 title match.

Jackson had the goal in regulation play for the Wildcats at 31 minutes. Stoneman assisted.

Central scored at 68 minutes on a header by Daniel Pearson off a corner kick.

"We outplayed them in overtime, I thought," Browne said.

"We just need to clean up a couple little things. Just go game-by-game and see what we do next week."

Columbia Falls, 7-5-1, will play at the winner of today's Libby at Corvallis match.

Columbia Falls 1 0 0 0 - 1

Billings Central 0 1 0 0 - 1

Shoot-out

Columbia Falls 4, Billings Central 3

Columbia Falls SO goals - Chase Jackson, Grant Getts, Josh McNeil, DJ Stoneman

Billings Central SO goals - Michael Eggen, NA, NA

Regulation Scoring

Columbia Falls - Chase Jackson (DJ Stoneman), 31:00

Billings Central - Daniel Pearson, 68:00

Shots on goal - Columbia Falls 26, Billings Central 13

Corner kicks - Columbia Falls 5, Billings Central 14

Goalie saves - Columbia Falls 11 (George Kimerly), Billings Central 15

Fouls - Columbia Falls 7, Billings Central 6

Cards - None.

Livingston 5, Stevensville 2, OT

STEVENSVILLE - Three overtime goals lifted Livingston past Stevensville in opening-round action of the Class A playoffs.

Tim Weber scored four goals for Livingston, including two in OT.

Mitch Glunt scored at 77 minutes for Stevensville to force the extra session.

David Stenseth had the other score for Livingston.

Livingston 1 1 3 - 5

Stevensville 1 1 0 - 2

Livingston - Tim Weber (Walker Stole), 13:00; Weber, 70:00; Weber, 86:00; David Stenseth 89:00; Weber, 92:00

STEVENSVILLE - Eric Depee (Ryan Kutter), 18:00; Mitch Glunt (Eric Depee), 77:00

Shots on goal - Livingston 21, Stevensville 21

Corner kicks - Livingston 8, Stevensville 8

Goalie saves - Livingston 13 (NA), Stevensville 17 (Marshall Glunt)

Fouls - Livingston 8, Stevensville 11

Cards - Stevensville 1 yellow