Kats drop Rangers in shootout
<p>Columbia Falls Wildkats sophomore Haley Purdy (left) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-tying goal Saturday afternoon at Flip Darling Field in Columbia Falls. The Wildkats went on to win the Class A semifinal match in a shootout with Livingston.</p>
<p>Columbia Falls goalkeeper Kira Kamrud makes a save during the shootout with Livingston on Saturday afternoon.</p><p></p>
COLUMBIA FALLS — After Haley Purdy scored a late equalizer to force overtime, the Columbia Falls girls soccer team beat Livingston 4-2 on penalty kicks Saturday at Flip Darling Field to advance to the Class A state championship game for the first time since 2004.
Columbia Falls trailed most of regulation after Livingston scored in the 13th minute, but the Wildkats found a way to force overtime, then scored on 4 of 5 attempts in the penalty shootout to secure the victory.
“It’s crazy, but we pull it out every time,” Columbia Falls senior goalkeeper Kira Kamrud said. “We work through it as a team.”
Danielle Delventhal shot left, Alexi Corbett shot right, and both beat Livingston goalkeeper Mia Stewart to get the Wildkats off to a good start in the shootout.
Livingston’s first shooter, Julia Deen, converted from the penalty spot, but Haley Dowdell was off target, giving Columbia Falls a 2-1 advantage. Meagan Seliger scored to put the Wildkats up 3-1 and Kamrud stopped Angie Gelderloos, giving Columbia Falls freshman Katie Price a chance to win it.
Price hammered her shot into the upper-right corner and the Wildkats stormed the field in celebration.
“They left everything out there and played with their hearts,” Columbia Falls coach Greg Trenerry said.
Kamrud had never previously participated in a shootout, but she came up with a clutch diving save to stop Gelderloos.
“I was thinking I had to stop at least one ball, I had to,” Kamrud said.
Columbia Falls (12-1-1) was sluggish in the first half and Livingston (6-5-0) capitalized when Angelica Silvestrone knocked in a cross from Emily Fochs to put the Rangers ahead 1-0. The Wildkats had a bit more possession as the half wore on, but were unable to crack Livingston’s organized back line. Fullbacks Kasie Anderson and Meghan Gibson clogged passing lanes on the outside and center backs Sarah Howard and Chelsea Woods chased down through balls in the middle, denying the Wildkats of any quality scoring chances.
“Once they scored we lost it for the whole first half,” Delventhal said. “We just had to come out strong in the second half.”
After halftime, Livingston defensive midfielder Noelani Boise dropped so deep she was essentially a third center back, and the Rangers sat back and attacked on the counter. Columbia Falls had more possession as a result, but didn’t create many chances.
In the 63rd minute, Livingston’s previously impregnable defense suddenly looked vulnerable. Delventhal made a run up the right flank, cut into the middle and fired from the edge of the 18-yard box, but her shot was right at the goalkeeper. Purdy found some space less than a minute later, but shot well over the crossbar from 20 yards out.
Needing an equalizer to extend their season, the Wildkats picked up their tempo and won a corner kick and a free kick, but Livingston’s zonal marking kept Columbia Falls from getting a shot on frame off either set piece.
Columbia Falls finally broke through in the 76th minute when Delventhal dribbled into the middle and fired from 20 yards out. Her shot ricocheted off the post and Purdy charged into the 18-yard box to bury the rebound.
Columbia Falls put one shot on frame in each of the 10-minute overtime periods, but neither troubled Stewart.
Delventhal said the difference in the last 20 minutes of regulation was an increased sense of urgency.
“Just pulling our heads out and realizing that we have one game and one game only,” she said. “If we lose, we’re done. We just have to remember that every game from now on will be our last game if we don’t win.”
Columbia Falls will host four-time defending state champion Billings Central Saturday in the state title game. Billings Central defeated Columbia Falls 5-0 in the semifinals last season and 3-0 in a nonconference game Sept. 7.
“Every year since we were freshmen we’ve gone a step further, and this means we have to win it, we have to take that step,” Kamrud said.
Billings Central defeated Whitefish 2-1 in the other semifinal.
“We owe Billings,” Delventhal said. “If Whitefish can score on them, I know we can.”
Livingston 1 0 0 0 — 1 (2)
Columbia Falls 0 1 0 0 — 1 (4)
LIVINGSTON — Angelica Silvestrone Emily Fochs), 13:00
COLUMBIA FALLS — Haley Purdy (Danielle Delventhal), 76:00
Penalty shootout
Livingston — Julia Deen (goal), Haley Dowdell (miss), Angie Gelderloos (saved), Angelica Silvestrone (goal).
Columbia Falls — Danielle Delventhal (goal), Alexi Corbett (goal), Meagan Seliger (goal), Haley Purdy (miss), Katie Price (goal).
Shots on goal — Livingston 8, Columbia Falls 14. Corner kicks — Livingston 4, Columbia Falls 4. Goalie saves — Livingston 11 (Mia Stewart), Columbia Falls 5 (Kira Kamrud). Fouls — Livingston 3, Columbia Falls 6. Cards — None.