C-Falls bests Polson 2-0 in physical soccer battle

COLUMBIA FALLS — Columbia Falls’ Jackson Barta scored twice in the first 20 minutes and the Wildcats held on for a 2-0 win over Polson in a physical Northern A boys soccer game Thursday at Flip Darling Field.

Barta knocked in a rebound in the 14th minute after Polson goalkeeper Trevor Basler bobbled Bailey Griffith’s 40-yard free kick, then lashed in a low cross from Casey Burghduff three minutes later.

“Just in the right place at the right time,” said a grinning Barta.

Arms and cleats began to fly around the 20-minute mark and a steady stream of fouls kept either team from establishing much of a rhythm. Two Polson players, including Basler, left the field with injuries in the second half and Columbia Falls’ Quentin Foust acquired a limp after he was taken down on a late challenge. Columbia Falls midfielder Caleb Baumann received a yellow card for a hard challenge in the 64th minute and the rough play culminated with the 78th-minute ejection of Columbia Falls’ Austin Kimmet, who received a red card.

“We’ll take the win, but we lost our composure on the field,” Columbia Falls coach Peter Browne said. “We didn’t concentrate on the game and it showed in the end. We had an ejection, which was unfortunate, a couple cards. Kind of an ugly game.”

Baumann said the Wildcats succeeded in the opening 20 minutes by stringing together passes and making smart runs, but the physical play that followed disrupted the flow of the game.

“That hurt the rhythm of the game,” he said. “That got our players a little riled up at times. We just need to keep our mental strength the whole way and not let that affect us. It shouldn’t affect us.”

Columbia Falls (3-3-1 overall, 1-1-1 Northern A) would’ve been ahead 3-0 at halftime if not for an athletic save by Basler, who made a leaping stop on an 18-yard free kick by Griffith.

Polson (0-8, 0-4) created a handful of scoring chances in the second half, but goalkeeper Mason Gedlaman stood tall for Columbia Falls. He punched a 35-yard attempt by Sam Heutmaker over the crossbar in the 67th minute, smothered a shot by Morgan Moll in the 73rd minute and parried a 20-yard free kick by Heutmaker in the 74th minute.

“Our problem, and it seems to be a consistent problem this year, is we’re just not finding the net,” Polson coach Jess Kittle said. “I like how we’re passing and playing with the ball, I like how we’re looking for the inside-outside passes, the 1-2, but boy we seem to be struggling getting the ball in the net.”

Polson 0 0 — 0

Columbia Falls 2 0 — 2

C - Jackson Barta (assist Bailey Griffith), 14:00

C - Barta (Casey Burghduff), 17:00

Shots - Polson 12, Columbia Falls 15. Saves - Polson 9 (Trevor Basler, Rhett Burland), Columbia Falls 12 (Mason Gedlaman). Corner kicks - Polson 6, Columbia Falls 3. Fouls - Polson 14, Columbia Falls 20. Yellow cards - Columbia Falls 1. Red cards - Columbia Falls 1.