Soccer: Libby boys, Whitefish girls play into state tournament
LIBBY — Libby scored two goals in the final six minutes on Tuesday to squeak past Columbia Falls with a 3-1 win and into the Class A state soccer playoffs.
The Loggers trailed 1-0 at halftime but were finally able to crack through a tough Wildcats defense in the 60th minute on a goal from senior midfielder Zander Peterson.
Peterson would answer with the game winner late in the contest, scoring on a pass from Ryan Nagle with six minutes to play. Loggers midfielder Colin Maloney added another in the 79th minute to send Libby to the victory.
The Loggers outshot Columbia Falls 24-6 and forced Wildcats keeper Brandon Karberg into 20 saves.
Jakob Grein gave Columbia Falls an early lead, scoring on a corner kick from Auguste Emond in the 17th minute.
“Libby had it turned on the whole game,” Wildcats coach O’Brien Byrd said. “We held on. Both teams played unbelieveably. I’m extremely proud of my guys.”
Libby advances to host the second seed from the Southern A Missoula Loyola on Saturday.
Columbia Falls 1 0 — 1
Libby 0 3 — 3
CF—Jakob Grein (Auguste Emond), 17:00
L—Zander Peterson, 60:00
L—Peterson (Ryan Nagle), 74:00
L—Colin Maloney, 79:00
Shots on Goal—Libby 24, CF 6. Keeper Saves—Libby 4 (Raffael Webber), CF 20 (Brandon Karberg). Corner kicks—Libby 7, CF 5. Fouls—Libby 6, CF 5. Cards—none.
GIRLS
Whitefish 2, Polson 1
POLSON — Whitefish junior forward Haley Nicholson scored twice in the final eight minutes to lead Whitefish past Polson 2-1 and into the Class A state soccer playoffs.
Nicholson, who leads the state with 28 goals scored this season, added two tallies in a late flourish for the Bulldogs. She scored the first in the 72nd minute on a pass from Katie Blankenship to tie the game and the second on a pass from Julia Houston two minutes later for the game winner.
“The girls responded with the right attitude and took the game by the scruff of the neck,” Whitefish coach Roland Benedict said.
Marina Mayorga opened the scoring for Polson with 10 minutes to play, netting a penalty kick to give the Pirates a lead at home. Polson outshot Whitefish 15-5 in the game.
Whitefish advances to host Southern A second seed Frenchtown on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the first round of the Class A state playoffs.
Whitefish 0 2 — 2
Polson 0 1 — 1
P—Marina Mayorga penalty kick, 70:00
W —Haley Nicholson (Katie Blankenship), 72:00
W—Nicholson (Julia Houston), 74:00
Shots on goal – Whitefish 9, Polson 15. Saves – Whitefish 12 (Kess Nelson), Polson 7 (Jenna Evertz). Corner kicks – Whitefish 4, Polson 2. Total fouls – Whitefish 8, Polson 9. Cards – None.