Vals come close, but go 0-2 over the weekend

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork girls' soccer team struggled to keep up this weekend losing to Laurel on Friday, 4-3, and Billings Central on Saturday, 4-1.

"They got tired and were complacent," said head coach Hauna Trenerry of the girls during Saturday's game.

The game started with an own goal for Billings just two-and-a-half minutes into the game. Bigfork attempted to undo the damage tying up the game with a penalty kick by Caitlin Charlebois at 19:30. But after that Billings took over. Jackie Elliot scored a penalty kick for them at 33:30, Morgan Seeley scored at 71:00 assisted by Miranda Rabold and Seeley scored again at the 80:00 assisted by Elliot.

Bigfork's goalie, Becca Denning made six saves to Billings' three. Billings attempted 15 shots on the goal to Bigfork's eight.

Friday's season opener was a much closer game for the Vals, but it was an uphill battle after Laurel scored three goals in the first sixteen minutes of play. It all started with Katy Raisl scoring for Laurel at the 2:00 mark. Lexie Day followed with a second goal just three minutes later, and Katie Day put one in at 16:00.

The Vals held them to three for the remainder of the first period, and the first half of the second, not allowing another Laurel point until the 56:00 by Lexie Day.

Meanwhile, Charlebois used the time to play catch-up on the other side of the score board with a hat trick. She put a penalty kick in at 41:00, scored again at 59:00 assisted by Christina Thompson and a third time at 60:00.

"They did really well to come back like that," Trenerry said.

Denning had 14 saves at the goal to Laurel's Katie Witschen's 6. Laurel had 21 shots on the goal. Bigfork had 12.

"It was a good opening weekend," Trenerry said. "There is a lot to work on, but they'll get there."