Wildcats continue to struggle
<p>Columbia Falls keeper Brandon Karberg looks to block a shot against Bigfork last week.</p>
The struggles continued for the Columbia Falls boys soccer team last week. The Wildcats lost to Bigfork 4-2 at home Oct. 2 and then to Libby 4-2 away Oct. 4.
The team has seen dwindling numbers. One player was suspended for an off-field violation of school rules and they’ve also had injuries. As a result, the Cats were down to 12 players against Libby.
Still, the young team hasn’t given up in any games. Against Bigfork, the boys were down 2-0 in the first 17 minutes, but Keenan Jessat scored a goal at the 20-minute mark, and freshman Alex Garate scored 10 minutes into the second half to make it 3-2.
Garate had a smile a mile wide when his shot found the back of the net. Bigfork, however, put the game out of reach with an insurance goal at the 62-minute mark.
Against Libby, it was more of the same. Libby went ahead 1-0 in the first half, but the Cats tied it up with a penalty kick by Daniel Skinner four minutes into the second half. Libby went up 11 minutes later 2-1, but then Skinner tied it at the 62-minute mark.
With a thin bench, the Cats are having a tough time going a full 80 minutes. Libby added two more goals to secure the win in the last 15 minutes.
The Wildcats wrap up their regular season with a road game against Polson and then a noon home game against Whitefish on Saturday. They’re now 1-5-0 in conference play and 2-8-0 overall.
C. Falls 0 2 – 2
Libby 1 3 – 4
L – Cody Wood (penalty kick), 33:00
CF – Daniel Skinner (penalty kick), 44:00
L – Walter Briones (Colin Maloney), 53:00
CF – Skinner, 62:00
L – Wood (Maloney), 63:00
L – Wood (Gio Cano), 80:00
Shots on goal – C. Falls 5, Libby 20. Saves – C. Falls 16 (Brandon Karberg), Libby 4 (Zander Petersen). Corner kicks – C. Falls 0, Libby 7. Total fouls –Away 10, Libby 14. Yellow cards – Libby 1.
Bigfork 3 1 – 4
C. Falls 1 1 – 2
B – Cameron Cantrell 5:00
B – Kyle Thompson 12:00
CF – Keenan Jessat 20:00
B – Shane Rieske 21:00
CF – Alex Garate 50:00
B – Tyler Zavala 62:00
Shots on goal – Bigfork 13, Col. Falls 7, Saves – Bigfork 2 (Kyle Cummings), Col. Falls 10 (Brandon Carberg). Corner kicks – Bigfork 2, Col. Falls 2. Total fouls – Bigfork 7, Col. Falls 11. Cards – Bigfork 1, Col. Falls 1.