C-Falls girls edge Polson

Pirates upend Wildcats 3-2 in boys soccer

COLUMBIA FALLS - The Columbia Falls Wildkats shook off the lingering affects of homecoming from the night before to record a comeback win over Polson on Saturday, 2-1. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Polson boys won a back-and-forth shootout 3-2 on a late goal by Peter Hanson.

Columbia Falls 2,

Polson 1

It might not have been artistic, but Columbia Falls managed to hang a W in Northern A girls soccer action, with a comeback win over Polson.

"We won, but it was pretty ugly," said Columbia Falls coach Greg Trenerry. "We uglied by."

The Wildkats may have celebrated Columbia Falls' football homecoming win the night before just a little too hard, what with an 11 a.m. start time set for their contest with the Pirates.

Polson scored first, just six minutes into the match when the Wildkats knocked the ball into their own goal. Lady Pirate Jordan Hinshaw was the last Polson player to touch the ball and was credited with the score.

Columbia Falls finally shook off the doldrums and pressured Polson goalkeeper Jacie Morrison late in the first half. Wildkat forward McKenzie Reeve had four shots on breakaways, but all sailed wide of the net.

Shay Grilley finally got Columbia Falls on the board just before half, scoring her first goal of the season. But in keeping with the "ugly" theme, she misfired on her first shot attempt at the top of the penalty box, before recovering in time to slip the ball past Morrison.

"Definitely, not even close with my right foot," Grilley confirmed. "Then I noticed no one kicked it away so I went with my left."

Reeve finally found the back of the net for the game winner at the midway point of the second half when she stepped in front of a Polson pass just outside the penalty box, made two quick moves to juke a pair of Pirate defenders, and scored.

Freshman midfielder Breanna Hopper had a couple of chances to make it three goals for the Wildkats. In the first half she drilled a shot from outside the penalty box, but the ball slammed off the goal bar. In the second half she headed in a free kick from Elena Potter, but was called offside on the play.

Polson coach Randy Hart said his team is still adjusting to the loss of two starting forwards, but said he wasn't making excuses. Columbia Falls, Hart said, played a tough game.

"It was a well-fought game on both parts," he said.

Polson 1 0 - 1

Columbia Falls 1 1 - 2

Polson - Jordan Hinshaw 6:00.

Columbia Falls - Shay Grilley 38:00 (McKenzie Reeve), Reeve 65:00.

Shots on goal - Polson 7, Columbia Falls 14

Goalie saves - Polson 12 (Jacie Morrison), Columbia Falls 3 (Niesha Thompson)

Corner kicks - Polson 2, Columbia Falls 6

Fouls - Polson 2, Columbia Falls 1

Cards - Polson 0, Columbia Falls 1

Polson 3,

Columbia Falls 2

Polson picked up a win over Columbia Falls in a wild Northern A shootout. Peter Hanson broke a 2-2 tie late when he followed a Polson shot for the game winner. Pirate forward Sean Hart's breakaway opportunity had been stopped on a diving save by goalkeeper George Kimerly, but the ball wasn't cleared and Hanson took advantage.

Polson was ahead 1-0 at the end of the first half. But the two teams combined for four scores after intermission. Columbia Falls tied the match twice before Hanson put it away.

"That was an intense game," said Polson coach Jess Kittle.

Polson midfielder Keio Salmonson opened the scoring early in the game when he took a pass from Steven Roberts and outraced the Wildcat defense to the goal.

Wildcat forward Chase Jackson evened the score early in the second half, taking a pass from Grant Getts and beating the Pirate defense for a breakaway goal. But Polson got back on top when Hanson hurried in a throw-in on the Columbia Falls end of the field. The Wildcats were slow to react, allowing Hart time to push the ball into the penalty area. There he made a nifty move, driving away from the goal, to just beyond the corner of the six-yard box, then spinning to his left. The move fooled the defense just enough to give Hart an open shot at the goal.

But the Wildcats responded with a dramatic play of their own when Michael Hensley headed in a free kick from Travis Pete with about 10 minutes left in the game.

That set up Hanson's game winner.

Polson's offensive speed challenged Columbia Falls throughout, and that may have been the difference.

"We missed some marks in the middle and it cost us two goals," Columbia Falls coach Peter Browne said.

Polson 1 2 - 3

Columbia Falls 0 2 - 2

Polson - Keio Salmonson 6:00 (Steven Roberts), Sean Hart 52:00, Peter Hanson 74:00.

Columbia Falls - Chase Jackson 44:00 (Grant Getts), Michael Hensley 70:00 (Travis Peat).

Shots on goal - Polson 12, Columbia Falls 10

Goalie saves - Polson 5 (Will Wallace), Columbia Falls 4 (George Kimerly)

Corner kicks - Polson 3, Columbia Falls 1

Fouls - Polson 6, Columbia Falls 16

Cards - Polson 0, Columbia Falls 1