C-Falls goes on the road for first round

Niels Getts will find himself in a familiar situation when the Columbia Falls Wildcats kick off in Frenchtown today — he’ll be in goal, not on the field.

Bryce Dunham, the usual starter, is in quarantine.

Getts has had a few stints in goal this season but the first one was also against Frenchtown in September. The Wildcats won that one, 3-2.

It’s a slight disadvantage for the Wildcats (9-1-1 overall, 6-1-1 in league), since Getts is the team’s second leading goal scorer with eight goals, though he has scored while in net.

In any event, O’Brien Byrd’s squad will make the best of it.

“We’re ready for a real war,” he said.

Three years ago it was Frenchtown who bounced Columbia Falls from the Class A quarterfinals — it was also the game where starter Story Stemborski had appendicitis and Getts got the call up to play goal.

“Going and playing a No. 1 seed, playing away from home ... lots of things a young team has to deal with,” Byrd said. “They’re playing with the confidence of conference champions but there’s a lot of things we have to do to take care of business.”

Frenchtown (9-3, 6-2) is the No. 1 seed in the Southern A and has two players in the top 10 of Class A scoring: Jeff Jacobs with 17 goals. Braydon Simpson with 14 goals and Mayson Palen with 10.

Jason Albin leads the Wildcats with nine goals. Kickoff is at 11 a.m.

Thomas Clark’s Wildkats are fully healthy, and he’s thankful for that. Not everyone has been so lucky.

“It’s been a crazy season for everyone,” Clark said. “I’m confident in our team and we’re excited.”

The Wildkats (9-2, 6-2) are headed to Corvallis (7-2-3, 5-0-3) for a 1 p.m. game.

They’ve met once before this season, on Aug. 28, and Columbia Falls triumphed 4-2.

“We know it’ll be a tough matchup,” Clark said. “In playoffs, every team’s fighting for their season.”

Leading the Wildkats attack is scoring leader Maddie Robison, who’s tallied 31 this year. Freshman Hope McAtee has scored 12, and Cheyanne Johnston-Heinz has 14.

“I’m confident in this group,” Clark said. “Everybody’s healthy and good to go.”