Wildcats go 1-1-1 for the week

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team had an up and down week. They opened with a Sept. 11 loss at home to nonconference Stillwater Christian, 4-1. They bounced back in Polson on Sept. 14 with a win over the Pirates 3-1, but then settled for a tie the next day at home against the Loggers, 1-1. The Wildcats are now 2-2-1 for the season.

Connor Williams scored two clutch goals to put the Cats over the top against the Pirates. The team also had a solid game against Libby. The Cats had 28 shots to Libby’s seven and dominated the first half, but they just couldn’t find the back of the net.

On one play in the second half, Libby keeper Austin Nagel just got his hands on the ball as Williams took the shot. The two collided, and Williams was given a questionable yellow card and had to leave the field.

A defensive lapse with just six minutes to go allowed Libby to tie the game. Wildcat coach Peter Browne said it’s imperative the boys keep the intensity up all game.

“We can’t have lapses,” he said. “Our goal is to advance to the playoffs this year.”

Browne was pleased with the win in Polson, but a win against Libby would have certainly helped the team’s playoff hopes. Browne notes he’s got a young team and it’s all a learning process.

The Cats will look to right the ship against Bigfork, who they face Tuesday after presstime. The Cats also play Whitefish away Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Stillwater away Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Stillwater has two fields and will play the Columbia Falls boys and girls teams at the same time.

Libby 0 1 – 1

Columbia Falls 1 0 – 1

CF – Caleb Baumann (PK), 21:00

L – Jeremy Helmrick, 74:00

Shots – Libby 7, Columbia Falls 28. Saves – Libby 14 (Austin Nagel), Columbia Falls 11 (Mason Gedlaman). Corner kicks – Libby 0, Columbia Falls 2. Total fouls – Libby 6, Columbia Falls 7. Yellow cards – Columbia Falls 2. Red cards – none.

Columbia Falls 1 2 – 3

Polson 1 0 – 1

P – Morgan Moll (Jonah Kasmitz), 36:00

CF – Casey Burghduff (Chase Ramberg), 40:00

CF – Conner Williams, 57:00

CF – Williams, 60:00

Shots – Columbia Falls 14, Polson 5. Saves – Columbia Falls 1 (Mason Geblaman), Polson 5 (Spencer Kittle). Corner kicks – Columbia Falls 9, Polson 2. Total fouls – Columbia Falls 14, Polson 9. Yellow cards – C. Falls 2. Red cards – none.

Stillwater 0 4 – 4

Columbia Falls 0 1 – 1

S – Cole Moore, 46:00

S – Joshua Bray, 55:00

S – Peter Venman, 58:00

CF – Keenan Jessat, 65:00

S – Bray, 75:00

Shots – Stillwater 21, Columbia Falls 14. Saves – Stillwater 14 (Taylor Reed), Columbia Falls 13 (Mason Gedlaman). Corner kicks – Stillwater 6, Columbia Falls 2. Total fouls – Stillwater 6, Columbia Falls 6. Yellow cards – none. Red cards – none