Wildkats breeze to win with newcomers, veterans
COLUMBIA FALLS — Five players made their first career starts for the Columbia Falls Wildkats on Friday in a 4-2 win over the Corvallis Blue Devils in the Class A soccer season opener at Columbia Falls High School.
“To come out and get a solid win against one of the top contenders in the south was a great first result especially for our newcomers,” Columbia Falls coach Thomas Clark said. “’I'm so proud of our team for coming out and performing the way we know how to play. This team has a real chance to do something special, and I’m glad we get to go to battle with this group.”
Hope McAtee, a freshman, scored two goals in her varsity debut in the first half, the first assisted by senior Maddie Robison.
“Hope McAtee is playing forward for us this year as a freshman and replacing the greatest forward in school history in Josie Windauer,” Clark said. Rather than letting that pressure get to her, she made an incredibly strong statement with two goals in her debut.”
In the second half, Robison scored two goals of her own, one assisted by keeper Zoey Byrd, who made 12 saves in her debut in goal. Robison scored 14 goals and had 43 points last season, the seventh most in Class A.
“”Maddie Robison continued to prove herself as one of the most dangerous players in the state,” Clark said. “ And Zoey Byrd was fantastic for us in her first career start in goal, she made a number of impressive saves and got an assist off a clearance off her line.”
The Wildkats visit Frenchtown for their next game on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Corvallis 1 1 — 2
Columbia Falls 2 2 — 4
CF - Hope McAtee (Maddie Robison) 1:00
C - Lauren Riddle (penalty kick) 3:00
CF - McAtee (unassisted) 33:00
CF - Robison (Zoey Byrd) 44:00
CF - Robison (Cheyanne Johnston-Heinz) 50:00
C - Kenzie Gross (unassisted) 58:00
Shots on goal — Corvallis 21, Columbia Falls 21; Goalie saves — Corvallis 15 (Mikayla King), Columbia Falls 12 (Zoey Byrd); Fouls — Corvallis 8, Columbia Falls 15; Cards — n/a.
Whitefish 3, Hamilton 1
WHITEFISH - Emma Barron scored two goals and the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs downed Hamilton 3-1 in their soccer opener Friday.
Sophie Olson’s goal at 24 minutes knotted the game at 1-all, and Barron’s first goal, in the 54 th minute, gave the Bulldogs the lead.
Sofie Saurey and Brooke Roberts had assists and keeper Sami Galbraith made seven saves.
Hamilton 1 0 - 1
Whitefish 1 2 - 3
H - Anna Gordon, 14:00
W - Sophie Olson (Sofie Saurey), 24:00
W - Emma Barron, 54:00
W - Barron (Brooke Roberts), 74:00
Shots on goal - Hamilton 8, Whitefish 27. Keeper saves - Hamilton 15 (Madison Johnson), Whitefish 7 (Sami Galbraith).
Boys
Whitefish 5, Hamilton 0
WHITEFISH - Brandon Mendoza’s hat trick paved the way for the Whitefish boys, who cruised to a season-opening victory over the Hamilton Broncs..
Gabe Menicke assisted on two of Mendoza’s goals - at the fourth and 45th minute - and scored a goal of his own. Chase Sabin assisted on another Mendoza goal and in the 67th minute, brothers Ford and James Thompson teamed up for the Bulldogs’ final tally.
Hamilton 0 0 - 0
Whitefish 2 3 - 5
W - Brandon Mendoza (Gabe Menicke), 4:00
W - Mendoza (Chase Sabin), 21:00
W - Mendoza (Menicke), 45:00
W - Menicke, 51:00
W - James Thompson (Ford Thompson), 67:00
Shots on goal - Hamilton 2, Whitefish 12. Keeper saves - Hamilton 7 (Sam Duerr), Whitefish 2 (Will Peppmeier). Corner kicks - Hamilton 1, Whitefish 14. Fouls - Hamilton 3, Whitefish 6.
Columbia Falls 2, Corvallis 1
Neils Getts scored the game-winner for the Columbia Falls Wildcats in a 2-1 victory over the Corvallis Blue Devils in a Class A soccer season opener.
“We had to come from behind,” coach O’Brien Byrd said. “I’m very happy because its literally the best soccer I’ve seen on that field in 10 years. The goal/stat column doesn’t reflect that statement … It was a nailbiter but it was a sign of things to come.”
Columbia Falls trailed 0-1 at the half.
Getts’ goal came at 70:00, one minute after Dale Blickan tied the game 1-1.
Wildcat keeper Bryce Dunham made nine saves.
Corvallis 1 0 — 1
Columbia Falls 0 2 —2
C - Timothy Hickey (unassisted) 13:00
CF - Dale Blickan (Neils Getts) 69:00
CF - Getts (Kai Golan) 70:00
Shots on goal - CF 9, Corvallis 6; Goalie saves - CF 9 (Bryce Dunham), Corvallis 7 (Hunter Linnewah); Corner kicks - Cf 2, Corvallis 8; Fouls - CF 12, Corvallis 14, Cards - CF 2 (yellow), Corvallis 1 (yellow).
Thursday
Glacier 4, Flathead 0
The Glacier Wolfpack girls soccer team shut out the Flathead Bravettes in the Class AA season opener for both teams at Legends Stadium on Thursday.
Glacier led 1-0 at the half.
Emily Cleveland scored a goal and had two assists. Kenzie Willams scored Glacier’s second goal on a free kick.
Complete statistics for this game were not available.
Glacier 1 3 — 4
Flathead 0 0 — 0
G - Taylor Brisendine (Emily Cleveland)
G - Kenzie Williams (free kick)
G - Ady Powell (Cleveland)
G - Cleveland (Madison Becker)