Soccer playoffs: Sigurdsson, Cats in semis
COLUMBIA FALLS — When you’re at a school that hasn’t won a playoff match in nine seasons, “history,” Columbia Falls boys soccer coach O’Brien Byrd said, “can be haunting.”
The Northern A champion Wildcats (12-1-1) chased away some ghosts on Saturday afternoon, using a pair of Jon Sigurdsson goals late in the first half to best Laurel 3-0 at Flip Darling Field and advance to the Class A state playoff semifinals for the first time since 2007.
The Wildcats won despite an uneven effort, impressing their coach with their grit if not their adherence to the game plan.
“You could tell, at times, they were dealing with the pressure and at times they weren’t playing Wildcats soccer,” Byrd said.
“But they still found a way to win and these guys have a knack of doing that.
“In these pressure situations, sometimes some things go out the window — tactics, team talks,” he added.
“In the end, all that matters is what happens between the lines. Just found a way to win, that’s all that matters.”
Sigurdsson, a 6-foot, 3-inch foreign exchange student from Iceland, scored the match-winner in the 36th minute with a spectacular individual effort. He outmaneuvered a pair of Laurel defenders just in front of the goal, swiping the ball away and blasting it into the netting.
“I just focused on the ball and tried my best to get it,” Sigurdsson said. “Never gave up. It’s amazing (when the ball goes in). That’s the best feeling in the world.”
“It was beautiful,” Byrd said of the goal.
“Jon was getting a little frustrated, he didn’t have a lot of chances, and sure enough he buried it right at a crucial time.
“It’s an instant pressure release value,” he added.
“You can feel the weight lift off everybody.”
Less than three minutes after his first goal, Sigurdsson tallied again, once more picking the pocket of a Locomotives defender in the box. The score gave Columbia Falls a two-goal cushion at halftime, and the Wildcats limited Laurel (4-8-1) to just one shot on goal in the second half.
Freshman Skylar Chute scored the third and final Wildcats goal, finishing a Stephens feed in the 74th minute. It was the freshman’s third goal of the year.
The Wildcats put 13 shots on frame to six for Laurel.
Keeper Brandon Karberg stopped all six shots to earn the shutout.
Columbia Falls will be at home next week against Belgrade after the Panthers ripped Missoula Loyola-Sacred Heart 9-1 on Saturday.
The date and time of the semifinal match has not been announced.
The Wildcats’ only loss this season came on the road in Belgrade, a 6-3 setback on Sept. 9.
“I think this is going to give us a lot of confidence and that’s exactly what we need,” Byrd said.
“We’ll need to play our best game of the season to win the next match.”
Laurel 0 0 — 0
Columbia Falls 2 1 — 3
CF — Jon Sigurdsson (unassisted), 36:00
CF — Sigurdsson (unassisted), 39:00
CF — Skylar Chute (Logan Stephens), 74:00
Shots on goal — Laurel 6, Columbia Falls 13. Saves — Laurel 9 (Kaleb Ripley), Columbia Falls 6 (Brandon Karberg). Corner kicks — Laurel 2, Columbia Falls 5. Fouls — Laurel 9, Columbia Falls 13. Cards — Yellow: Columbia Falls 1.