Wildkats top Vals in playoff game, 2-1

BIGFORK — When in doubt, make sure Tayler Lingle gets the ball.

Sometimes she’ll find it on her own, though.

That strategy ended up paying off for the Columbia Falls Wildkats Tuesday in a 2-1 victory over the Bigfork Valkyries in a Northern A play-in game.

Lingle potted the go-ahead goal in the 65th minute off a deflection from Mila Johns’ shot.

“Taylor's got some wheels. She's a secret weapon,” Columbia Falls coach Thomas Clark said.

Bigfork finished second in the conference and Columbia Falls third. That set the matchup for the play-in game, where the winner is host of a quarterfinal game. Columbia Falls will play on its home field Saturday against southern No. 2 seed Corvallis.

“It's a huge battle to have to do that before you even get to the quarters,” Clark said. “But it also helps us, you know, prepare for that quarterfinal game and feel like we got one of the best teams in the state outta the way on their home field. So it's huge and huge credit to their great program.”

Lingle, a sophomore, showcased her blistering speed up the left side, but didn’t connect until she picked up the rebound that slid through the Bigfork keeper’s hands to break the 1-1 tie.

Hope McAtee, set up by Sydney Mann, gave the Wildkats their first lead in the 15th minute.

The Vals answered five minutes later with a goal by freshman Paeten Gunlock, in the 20th minute. That goal was a sister-to-sister connection – Paeten’s older sister Braeden provided the assist.

But it was through the midfield that the butter was churned – Clark was complimentary of the play of defenders Apani Awua, Kira Bruner and Brenna Ruggiero, to name a few.

“They played really well,” Clark said. “They fought super hard. Josie Harris, she plays all over the pitch for me. She's one of the best players in the state. And to jump back out at center back right at the end of the game was super clutch.”

Wildkat goalkeeper Zoey Byrd ended up with 13 saves, a couple of them big ones. Just before the half, Byrd fought through a flurry at the goal line and came up with the ball. The first shot of that sequence looked like a sure Bigfork goal but it is unclear whether the referee missed it or if it was blocked.

“Zoey Byrd played the game of her life,” Clark said. “She's a senior, she wanted her career to keep going. Sydney Mann's a senior. She got an assist. We kind of knew those two seniors were gonna have to carry us and have big games to get where we wanted to go today.”

Columbia Falls 1 1 – 2

Bigfork 1 0 – 1

CF – Hope McAtee (Sydney Mann) 15:00

B – Paeten Gunlock (Braeden Gunlock) 20:00

CF – Tayler Lingle (Mila Johns) 65:00

Shots – CF 6, BF 10; Goalie saves – CF 13 (Zoey Byrd), Bigfork 5 (Catherine Panor); Fouls – CF 10, BF 13.