Columbia Falls, Whitefish boys soccer pick up road wins

LAUREL — Max Everett and Bruno Vazquez picked up hat tricks as Columbia Falls defeated Laurel 8-0 in boys soccer Friday.

River Wolford added four assists — two in each half — as the Wildcats (1-0) peppered the Locomotives goal with 19 shots. 

“The boys came out with an undeniable energy and thirst for competition,” coach O’Brien Byrd said. “Three goals in the opening 14 minutes was proof of that.” 

Wolford found Jack Harris for the opening goal just two minutes into the game. Everett got his first in the 6th minute and added another eight minutes later. 

Five minutes into the second half Otto Anderson got in the score sheet with an unassisted tally. 

Vazquez scored his first in the 72nd minute and added two more in the 75th and 79th minutes. Everett tallied his third in the 77th minute. 

The Wildcats continue their road trip in Lockwood Saturday. 

Whitefish 6, Lockwood 1 

LOCKWOOD — Five second half goals powered the Whitefish boys to a season-opening victory over Lockwood Friday. 

Griffin Johnson and Jack Ohlerich scored braces and Elijah Adams-Griffin tallied two assists for the Bulldogs. 

“Lockwood came out with a lot of intensity and it took a while for us to grow into the game,” coach Eric Sawtelle said. “Eventually we were able to connect passes and find space to create chances.  Overall a decent 1st game, we have a lot to improve on but it’s a good start for the boys.” 

Logan Bingham put the Bulldogs on the board in the first half on a strike from Adams-Griffin. 

Adams-Griffin then found Ohlerich early in the second half for Whitefish’s second goal. 

After Griffin Johnson scored an unassisted goal, Griffin Gunlikson found Ohlerich for his second of the game. 

Justis Arterbury found Kyler Jonson for the fifth goal before Griffin Johnson capped off the win to complete his brace. 

The Bulldogs put 15 shots on frame to Lockwood’s three. Charlie Dow made a pair of saves in goal. 

The Bulldogs take on Laurel on Saturday.

Girls 

Laurel 5, Columbia Falls 0 

Abigail Sparks scored a second half brace in two minutes and had an assist as Laurel defeated Columbia Falls 5-0 Friday. 

“It was a very humbling first match for the team,” coach Thomas Clark said. “I think we will grow from this and get back on track. We need to learn how to increase our level of physicality when that is what the game demands.”  

Sparks found Darby Boehler in the 13th minute for the opener. It didn't take the Locomotives (1-0) long to get another as Aubri Roth doubled the lead in the 16th minute, Laurel would take the two-goal advantage into the half. 

Out of the break Sparks quickly put the game out of reach, scoring in the 50th and 51st minutes to make it 4-0. 

The Wildkats (0-1) put six shots on frame, challenging Laurel’s goalkeeper Raelynn Wagner. 

“If we finish some of our early chances, the game looks a lot different,” Clark said. “But that is the way it goes in this game.” 

The Wildkats travel to Laurel for another match on Saturday.