C-Falls holds off Bigfork

By GREG SCHINDLER

The Daily Inter Lake

COLUMBIA FALLS - Look out, Northern A. Someone woke the Wildcats.

The Columbia Falls High School boys' soccer team scored three goals in the first 15 minutes Saturday afternoon en route to a 3-1 victory over rising Bigfork.

The Wildcats' first conference conquest avenged their season-opening loss at Bigfork and came just four days after they took defending Class A state champion Whitefish to the wire before falling 3-2.

DJ Stoneman put Columbia Falls out front in the fourth minute with a spectacular shot inside the far post, courtesy of Uriah Keller's assist.

Josh McNeil followed with a pair of goals, assisted by Stoneman and Edgar Salcido, as the Wildcats built a 3-0 lead and withstood Bigfork's second-half surge.

The Wildcats improved to 1-2-1 in Northern A play and 4-2-1 overall, while the Vikings dropped to 1-2 in conference action and 2-4 overall.

Bigfork blanked Columbia Falls 2-0 on Aug. 25, marking the young program's first victory against the Wildcats.

"We played a lot better than we did the first game," Stoneman said. "We passed it around and moved a lot better than we did the game before. We were just more calm and collected overall. We played more as a team and we just finished our shots more, which was the big thing we didn't do last game."

The victory was crucial in what should be a tight battle for Northern A's three postseason berths.

"We were better organized," Columbia Falls coach Peter Browne said of the difference between Saturday's game and the season opener. "We had a little different mix.

"We've got our spots more organized than we did our first game. We've got players in different spots, and it seems to be paying off."

Roland Benedict led Bigfork's comeback bid, scoring on a free kick in the 47th minute as the Vikings began to generate waves of pressure.

"Our defense worked really hard in the first half, and we just got a little too loose in the second half," Browne said.

"We're just having a hard time playing 80 minutes. I thought we played a great first half, and in the second half we missed our marks and we almost let them back in the game."

According to Bigfork coach Keith Koslosky, the Vikings' second-half adjustment was mental rather than physical.

"I believe that the team decided to focus and play soccer for a while," he said. "They came out a little flat.

"They need to come out ready to play. About 10 minutes in, they're ready. Unfortunately, the game is already on its way."

Bigfork's Matt McGady stepped into the sweeper role and turned in a fantastic performance. Koslosky said Benedict and Alec MacCallum also shined in defeat, as did David Meyers and Derek Minemyer, who played through illness.

Columbia Falls goalkeeper George Kimerly tallied two saves as the Wildcats unleashed 13 shots on frame while holding Bigfork to two.

"Different day, different game," Koslosky said. "(The Wildcats) looked like they were better organized and knew more what they wanted to do. They exploited the wings early."

Bigfork 0 1 - 1

Columbia Falls 3 0 - 3

BIGFORK - Roland Benedict (free kick), 47:00

COLUMBIA FALLS - DJ Stoneman (Uriah Keller), 4:00; Josh McNeil (Stoneman), 10:00; McNeil (Edgar Salcido), 15:00

Shots on goal - BF 3, CF 13

Corner kicks - BF 3, CF 4

Goalie saves - BF 4 (Levi Dockstader), CF 2 (George Kimerly)

Fouls - BF 8, CF 2

Cards - None

Wildkats 4, Valkyries 0

COLUMBIA FALLS - Each team made strides as Columbia Falls posted its first shutout of the season and the Valkyries played the Wildkats much tighter than their first meeting.

Lindsey Henning gave Columbia Falls the lead for good by squeezing her 18th-minute direct kick just inside the goal.

Kassi Hebert scored three times, including a 25th-minute goal, which gave Columbia Falls a 2-0 halftime advantage. Hebert's hat trick pushed her season goal total to 12.

The Wildkats moved to 2-1-1 in Northern A play and 4-2-1 overall, while the Valkyries (0-5, 0-3) remain winless despite their vast improvement.

"We've been working on the midfield, and the midfield did much better today … won a lot more balls," Columbia Falls coach Greg Trenerry said. "And our defense, of course, they did well as they always have … I think they just had it all together today."

Columbia Falls goalkeeper Colyne Hislop had a flawless match, saving six shots on frame and smothering another half dozen through balls.

"We played better as a team," Hislop said. "We listened to each other a lot more. We hustled and we stepped to the ball.

"I always feel better if I have a shutout just because I had a better game and the team had a better game."

Hebert's final goals came just a minute apart, capped by her 48th-minute, left-footed laser inside the far post.

It was a well-rounded effort for Columbia Falls, which enjoyed stellar contributions from midfielders Hennings, Kate Anderson, Elena Potter and Shelby Wiebelhaus and defender Jylisa Fields.

"They were playing well," Trenerry said. "The forwards were making good runs and the midfielders were winning the ball and distributing."

The Wildkats out-shot the Valkyries 12-7, but Bigfork unloaded five shots in the second half while resuming its typically solid defense and gaining control of the midfield. Columbia Falls scored six second-half goals Aug. 25 while beating Bigfork 8-1.

"Pretty evenly matched, back and forth, in the first half," Bigfork coach Steve Koch said. "The second half, the first five minutes we came out flat. (The Wildkats) took advantage of it, got the quick two (goals). We made some adjustments, the ladies kept their heads up, and I felt like we dominated the last 15, 20 minutes of it."

Stopper Becca Denning and center halfback McKenzie Reeve led a young Bigfork squad, which continues to gain confidence.

"It's growing every match," Koch said. "The freshmen are now starting to feel a little more comfortable, they're not as hesitant. We're getting some great leadership out of the sophomores and juniors."

Columbia Falls' victory came on the heels of Tuesday's 1-0 loss at Whitefish.

"It's good to be back on the winning side," Trenerry said. "And to Bigfork's credit, they are an improved team."

Bigfork 0 0 - 0

Columbia Falls 2 2 - 4

COLUMBIA FALLS - Lindsey Henning (direct kick), 18:00; Kassi Hebert (Jamie Valov), 25:00; Hebert (Valov), 47:00; Hebert (Henning), 48:00

Shots on goal - BF 7, CF 12

Corner kicks - BF 1, CF 1

Goalie saves - BF 8 (Charlene Miller), CF 6 (Colyne Hislop)

Fouls - BF 3, CF 2

Cards - None