Family business

Greg and Hauna Trenerry tie in first match as rival coaches

COLUMBIA FALLS - The old saying goes "ties are like kissing your sister." But for Bigfork girls' soccer coach Hauna Trenerry, it's more like hugging your father, which is all right in her mind.

The Columbia Falls Wildkats, led by Hauna's father Greg Trenerry, tied Hauna's Valkyries 2-2 at "Flip" Darling Memorial Field in Columbia Falls Saturday.

The two coaches met at center field for the first time as opposing coaches.

"Hi Dad," Hauna said as the pair shook hands, acting the part as rival coaches. But once that was done, they embraced for one last hug before taking opposite ends.

For the next 80 minutes, family matters didn't matter. They both wanted to win.

"Her team wants to win and my team does," Greg said. "I knew she'd do a great job. I'm really proud of her. But it also makes it a little harder (playing each other)."

"It's weird to play against my dad," said Hauna. "Plus, I coached (Columbia Falls) last season, so it's hard to play against them. He knew that we'd be a good team and I knew that they would step up a lot and play hard. So it was fun I think for both of us. And at least we tied, so now the other one can't be mad."

From the start, Bigfork goalie Becca Denning had her hands full as Columbia Falls sent shots flying. But Denning came up with one big save in particular and quickly sent the ball flying down field to a teammate. The sudden change in momentum caught the Columbia Falls' defense lopsided, and Bigfork sophomore forward Caitlin Charlebois took advantage. Charlebois deked a defender and with a quick slap, kicked the ball just out of goalie Niesha Thompson's reach.

According to Bigfork senior captain Ariana Shults, getting that first goal was really important.

"That really got the team going, I think," she said.

But Bigfork's lead didn't last long. With under 10 minutes to go in the half, Columbia Falls' middle-fielder Elena Potter cut a sharp pass through Bigfork's defense to McKenzie Kizer, who shot from roughly 15 yards for a nothing-but-net goal. Potter remained relentless through the first half, even sending a shot from mid-field that hit goalie Denning square in the chest.

After the game, the coach praised Potter's game.

"(Potter) has really picked it up this year," he said.

Early in the second half, the Wildkats momentarily lost Potter after she lunged for a ball and fell to the ground in pain.

Greg Trenerry, in his 12th season as head coach, helped her to her feet and got her to the sideline. Potter came back in the game later and played with the same intensity as before.

He said she tweaked her ankle on the play, and in her words "it's just a little sore."

The game went into half tied 1-1, and both coached gathered their teams in similar-style huddles. At times, the pep talks sounded like echoes as both coaches emphasized playing as a team and staying active on the field.

"We gotta want this game," Greg told his team before they took the field for the second half. "It's a zero-zero game. Let's win this thing!"

"Come on girls, we gotta come out strong," Hauna said.

Both teams pushed down the field and again Denning made another key save with 21:00 left, lunging in front of a Wildkat shot for the save. Minutes later, Bigfork hit the goal post with a hard shot that deflected right into Bigfork's feet. Sophomore Quinci Paine kicked the ball just over the goalie's head and gave her team the lead, 2-1.

But Kizer kept Columbia Falls' intensity alive. Potter soared a corner kick in front of the Bigfork goalie and the 5-foot-3 Kizer leaped into the air going for the header, which barely missed. The ball dribbled off Bigfork defenders but Kizer pushed her way right back in and sneaked a shot into the net for her second goal, tying the game once again, 2-2. Kizer's goal ended up keeping the Wildkats from falling to 0-5, and Greg credited her with being a team leader.

"They came together as a team today," he said afterwards.

"McKenzie led the way. She's a hard worker out there… She gets asthma so we have to watch her. We were asking around what she ate for breakfast this morning."

So what did Kizer have for breakfast that made the difference?

"Pancakes," she said smiling after the game. "Oh, and homemade raspberry jelly with whipped cream."

This could be the type of strategy Greg keeps from discussing at the family dinner table.

Bigfork 1 1 - 2

Columbia Falls 1 1 - 2

Bigfork - Caitlin Charlebois goal (Quinci Paine), 13:01; Paine, 59:00

Columbia Falls - McKenzie Kizer (Elena Potter), 20:00; Kizer 70:00

Shots on goal - Bigfork 11, Columbia Falls 15

Corner kicks - Bigfork 0, Columbia Falls 5

Goalie saves - Bigfork 13 (Becca Denning), Columbia Falls 9 (Niesha Thompson)

Fouls - Bigfork 6, Columbia Falls 5

Cards - None