Girls soccer drop three in a row

By FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork Valkyrie soccer team lost its three matches last week — 1-3, 1-9 and 0-6 — but the Vals' coach is not deterred.

"I'm actually excited to play Whitefish," coach Steve Koch said of the Vals' next match against Northwest A powerhouse Whitefish.

Bigfork's JV team lost to the Whitefish JV squad 3-1 August 28 before the full team traveled to Laurel and Billings for back-to-back games Friday and Saturday.

Quinci Paine scored the Vals' lone goal against Whitefish.

Caitlin Charlebois also scored for Bigfork. She recorded the Vals' one goal against Laurel, a tough match for the Vals.

"We got slammed against Laurel," Koch said.

Laurel fired shot after shot on goal against Bigfork keeper Becca Denning for a 9-1 win.

Paine started in the box for the Vals in their match against Billings Central. Bigfork held Billings Central, who beat Whitefish 3-0, scoreless in the first half and through until the 75th minute.

"We were counter attacking," Koch said after Billings Central's first goal.

Billings scored again, and Koch changed keepers and shuffled his lineup. Denning went in the box for the Vals, and Koch moved his defenders back to their usual forward positions in hopes of scoring.

"Let's go for it," Koch said he thought.

His plan was fruitful for about six minutes, as the ball did not leave midfield on Bigfork's offensive end. Billings though was able to score again and rolled on to a 6-0 win.

"The girls were very positive," Koch said. Bigfork was the first team to shutout Billings Central in the first half.

Bigfork's conference match against Whitefish Sept. 6 marks the first game in which Koch will have a full roster to work with. Add that in with outstanding play as of late from Paine, Logun Koch and Charlene Miller and coach Koch has good reason to be excited about the match.

"Chary's (Miller) is really developing in the box," Koch said. "She has great leadership and the girls really trust her."

The Vals play in Whitefish at 6 p.m. today and travel to Hamilton Saturday at 1 p.m.