Pitch split for C-Falls, Whitefish
Columbia Falls' Josie Windauer (15) scores a goal past Whitefish goalkeeper Sami Galbraith (1) and forward Sofie Saurey (9) in the first half at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Gabe Menicke (9) heads a corner kick on goal against Columbia Falls at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls' Josie Windauer (15) scores a goal past Whitefish goalkeeper Sami Galbraith (1) in the first half at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls' Josie Windauer (15) scores a goal in the first half against Whitefish at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Josie Schneider (14) looks to shoot with Columbia Falls' Graceanne Sevesind (21) defending at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Mary Peterson (4) defends against Columbia Falls' Sydney Mann (13) and Madeline Robison (7) at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Mary Peterson (4) defends against Columbia Falls' Josie Windauer (15) as Whitefish goalkeeper Sami Galbraith (1) makes a save at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls' Gwen Jarvis (17) defends against Whitefish's Josie Schneider (14) at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's James Thompson (17) celebrates with Ian Lacey (7) after Lacey's first goal of the game against Columbia Falls at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Ian Lacey (7) works around Columbia Falls' Nico Lang (17) for a shot on goal at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls' Preston Trenerry (15) and Whitefish's Ian Lacey (7) battle for possession in the first half at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls goalkeeper Story Stemborski (1) makes a leaping save off a Whitefish corner kick as Bulldogs forward Marvin Kimera goes for a header at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls' Finley Sundberg (22) pursues Whitefish's Gabe Menicke at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Ian Lacey (7) redirects a ball on goal against Columbia Falls at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Casey Schneider (10) works the ball upfield against Columbia Falls' Tyler Hull (14) at Smith Fields on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
WHITEFISH — A Josie Windauer goal tied it at 2-all at 38 minutes and the Columbia Falls Wildkats added two more en route to a 4-3 Northern A girls soccer victory over rival Whitefish on Tuesday at Smith Fields.
Josie Schneider scored a hat trick for Whitefish with Abigail Shaffer, Grace Benkelman and Adrienne Healy providing the assists.
“Josie Schneider is playing our No. 9, which is a new position for her, and by scoring a hat trick she proved it is her position to lose,” Whitefish coach Roland Benedict said.
It was the season opener for Whitefish.
“We played awful,” Benedict said.
“Our team is set up to break opponents down with our passing and if you watched our team today, you would think we didn’t know how to pass. Obviously, Columbia Falls executed their game plan well. However when you play as poorly as we did, it makes it hard to win games.”
Columbia Falls held a slight edge in shots on goal, 10-9.
There was only one corner kick and that was by Whitefish.
“All three of our goals were scored within our principles of attack, were created in the system and style of play we want,” Benedict said.
“However creating just three changes is not enough.”
Whitefish is back in action Friday at Livingston for a nonconference match.
Columbia Falls (3-0 overall, 2-0 conference) has a home nonconference match with Livingston on Sept. 14.
“This game was a grind, a battle,” Columbia Falls coach Thomas Clark said.
“Some games are like that. Whitefish is one of the best teams in the state. It took everything we had to come away with the win.”
Columbia Falls 2 2 — 4
Whitefish 2 1 — 3
W — Josie Schneider (Abigail Shaffer), 12:00
CF — Josie Windauer (Flora Jarvis), 23:00
W — Schneider (Grace Benkelman), 35:00
CF — Windauer (Maddie Robison), 38:00
CF — Madeline Robison (Windauer), 54:00
CF — LaKia Hill (Windauer), 56:00
W — Schneider (Adrienne Healy) 69:00
Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 10, Whitefish 9; Corner kicks — Columbia Falls 0, Whitefish 1; Goalie saves — Columbia Falls 4 (Ave McDonald), Whitefish 8 (Sami Galbraigh); Fouls — Columbia Falls 14, Whitefish 9; Cards — None.
Whitefish 5,
Columbia Falls 2
WHITEFISH — Ian Lacey burned Columbia Falls for two quick goals in the first five minutes of play and Whitefish, the defending Class A state champions, rolled from there for a season opening and Northern A Conference victory at Smith Fields.
Sam Menicke, Marvin Kimera and Casey Schneider also scored for the Bulldogs.
Brandon Mendoza (2), Schneider and Menicke had assists.
Niels Getts scored twice for Columbia Falls in the late going to complete the scoring.
“It was a good win … always fun to play Columbia Falls,” Whitefish coach John Lacey said.
“Another great game by their keeper (Story Stemborski) kept us off the boards, but we played well. We feel proud of the effort for Game 1.”
While it was the first game of the season for Whitefish, it was the third for the Wildcats.
“We have a deep roster, so it’s all right,” Lacey said.
Whitefish posted a 14-0-1 record last year.
Whitefish plays at Livingston on Friday.
The next match for Columbia Falls (1-2, 1-1) is Sept. 14 at home versus Livingston.
Columbia Falls 0 2 — 2
Whitefish 3 2 — 5
W — Ian Lacey (Brandon Mendoza), 1:00
W — Lacey, 5:00
W — Sam Menicke (Mendoza), 32:00
W — Marvin Kimera (Casey Schneider), 44:00
W — Schneider (Menicke), 56:00
CF — Niels Getts, 69:00
CF — Getts (Simon Magg), 78:00
Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 7, Whitefish 19; Corner kicks — Columbia Falls 2, Whitefish 4; Goalie saves — Columbia Falls (Story Stemborski), Whitefish 5 (Colter Upton); Fouls — NA; Cards — None.