Vikes advance; beat undefeated Corvallis

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork boys soccer team beat the undeafted, top-seeded, Corvallis boys team from the Southern Class A conference, 1-0, in the first round of the state playoffs last Friday.

The Vikings are the third seeded team from Northern Class A in the tournament. From the way they have been playing the last few weeks one would never guess that this team didn't get their first win until nine games into the season. Since then, they have tied one game, lost one game and beat Polson to advance to the playoffs where they took down the Blue Devils.

"Being a three seed we know that every game we play in post season we are going in as the underdog, and we are very comfortable with that role," said Bigfork head boys soccer coach Keith Koslosky. "I'm proud of what this group has accomplished and look forward to moving on with them. I can only hope that they're having as much fun as I am. It's exciting to watch them grow, not only as soccer players, but as young men."

Derek Minemyer made the sole goal of the game in the 42:00. The goal was made off of a corner kick from Taylor Ingram. He directed the low driven ball just out of reach of Corvallis' goalie, and Minemyer went in from the back post and put it in.

"They played gutty, determined, never say 'die,'" Koslosky said of the Vikings. "The entire team played their role to contribute to the desired outcome and we're moving on. I believe that every player gave their teammates what they deserved, and that was giving their best effort, and they were able to walk off the field proud of that effort."

Though Koslosky emphasized that the win was a total team effort, he also added that, "David Meyers' will carried through to the rest of the team."

Corvallis outshot Bigfork 22-8. Bigfork's goalie, Zac Hansen, had four saves in his fourth shutout of the year.

"Corvallis was very confident," Koslosky said. "As they should be. They were undefeated, and once tied, this season, and they are the highest scoring team in the state. Corvallis is certainly a talented, athletic, highly skilled, fast and well coached group."

But Bigfork went in and played their hearts out and used what they learned from their continually improving season to knock Corvallis out of the tournament.

"I believe that the nature of the Northern Class A conference, and the nature of the matches we played this season, prepared us well for single elimination post season play," Koslosky said. "I extend my congratulations to the Northern Class A conference for placing three teams into the semifinals for the second year in a row."

Koslosky attributes the competition in the Northern Class A Conference to the growing success of the Bigfork boys soccer team.

"With the exception of two matches, none of our matches were determined by more than two goals," Koslosky said. "I think that shows we have a highly competitive conference. I think that with that, a certain mental toughness is developed."

The team has made a noticeable change since the beginning of the season, both in their play and in their look. Nearly every member of the team has shaved their hair into a mohawk, and perhaps that's their secret weapon.

"The mohawks have certainly had a solidifying effect," Koslosky said. "There's something that has brought them together. The camaraderie has always been there. The mohawks may have brought that out though. They have definitely found something to believe in in themselves and in their team. Whether that has anything to do with the mohawks, I don't know."

Despite the distance, Koslosky said he was impressed by the attendance of so many parents, students and members of the girls soccer team at their game in Corvallis. He said he'd love to see even more Bigfork fans in the stands on Saturday in Libby when the Vikes take on the Loggers at 1 p.m. Koslosky said that the match should be an entertaining game.

"I know coach Webster (Libby's coach) will have his group prepared," Koslosky said. "Both games we've played against them have been highly competitive and highly spirited matches."