C-Falls girls soccer bests Whitefish, boys tie
COLUMBIA FALLS — The four most explosive soccer teams in the North A met Tuesday night with league titles on the line, and you can guess how the games turned out.
One-oh, and 1-1.
Isla Alexander’s goal in the ninth minute was the difference in Columbia Falls’ 1-0 win over Whitefish in the girls game that opened up festivities at Flip Darling Field.
Then Bruno Felijo’s equalizer helped Columbia Falls forge a 1-1 tie in the boys game; no one scored in the final 50 minutes and change of that one.
Columbia Falls held serve and earned the North A’s top seed. The Whitefish girls may slip to third in a powerful league that includes Bigfork. The Bulldog boys will hold onto the No. 2 seed.
Wildkats 1, Bulldogs 0
Alexander’s goal held up in what was a tightly-contested regular-season finale for the Wildkats.
“The girls came out on fire and scored a goal early,” Columbia Falls coach Thomas Clark said. “Evie Dorr found Isla Alexander and Isla had a great shot outside the box. We have been working a lot on utilizing our wingbacks more and it was awesome to see her get a goal from that spot.”
It was Alexander’s 12th goal for the Wildkats, who are 9-2-1 overall and 6-1-1 in league matches.
“For these seniors this is their first conference championship in their careers,” Clark said. “I am so proud of our entire team for battling and getting a result in an incredibly competitive game. Now we get ready for playoffs.”
Whitefish fell to 7-3-1, 4-2-1 in league. The Bulldog teams close their regular season with home matches Thursday with Thompson Falls.
Whitefish 0 0 - 0
C-Falls 1 0 - 1
CF — Isla Alexander (Evie Dorr)
Shots on goal — Whitefish 10, Columbia Falls 14. Keeper saves — Whitefish (Jacqueline Solem) 9, Columbia Falls (Erica Burguiere) 8. Corner kicks — Whitefish 5, Columbia Falls 2. Fouls — Whitefish 11, Columbia Falls 8.
Wildcats 1, Bulldogs 1
The visiting Bulldogs jumped ahead in the 10th minute, with Preston McPherson scoring off a helper from Kyle Jonson.
Felijo’s equalizer, his 13th of the season, came on a penalty kick in the 30th minute. The Wildcats ended their regular season 11-0-1 overall, 7-0-1 in the North A.
“Credit to Whitefish, I believe they were the better team at points in that match and gave us everything we could handle,” Wildcats coach O’Brien Byrd said. “Our keeper Rafe Rusche had an excellent game, keeping us in it after the Bulldogs had flurries of chances in both halves.
“It was a great team performance. Everyone that took part in that game helped get us across the line. They boys are riding high right now and are happy to close the regular season with a great result.”
It was the eighth goal for McPherson. Whitefish fell to 8-2-1, 5-1-1.
Whitefish 1 0 - 1
C-Falls 1 0 - 1
W — Preston McPherson (Kyle Jonson), 10:00
CF — Bruno Felijo (PK), 30:00
Shots on goal — Whitefish 13, Columbia Falls 14. Keeper saves — Whitefish (Charlie Dow) 7, Columbia Falls (Rafe Rusche) 12. Corner kicks — Whitefish 5, Columbia Falls 1. Fouls — Whitefish 10, Columbia Falls 14.