Vikings 1-1 in early season non-conference soccer

An early-season 1-1 record has the Bigfork boys soccer team sitting high in the standings, with the same win-loss record as Whitefish.

The Vikings opened their season last Tuesday in a home match against Stevensville at Carlyle Johnson Field. While the Vikings lost 3-2 they began strong and made Stevensville work for their win.

Saturday they travelled to Frenchtown, whom they shut out 3-0.

“We’re playing a very well rounded game,” head coach Bill Buxton said. “Our goal scoring opportunities game from multiple people. It was very nice to see that happening on the field.”

Kyle Thomson scored two of Bigfork’s three goals against Frenchtown, and Buxton said scoring opportunities came also game from Tyler Zavala, Carson Cantrell, George Gibson on the offense and Isaac Passwater, and Devin Potterbaum on the defense.

“That means we’re playing a very well rounded game,” Buxton said.

The defensive side of the team showed particularly well against Frenchtown. Not only did Bigfork keep Frenchtown from scoring, they limited Frenchtown’s opportunities to get one in the net.

“I was really pleased with our defense,” Buxton said. “Especially considering Frenchtown, though they have some weaknesses, they have a very strong midfield and we were able to contain that.”

Cantrell scored Bigfork’s first goal against Frenchtown assisted by Zavala. Thomson scored the last two goals assisted by Cantrell.

Last Tuesday against Stevensville Zavala got the game rolling, scoring in the first minute, assisted by Thomson. Stevensville responded in the tenth minute stealing the ball and scoring a goal of their own. Thomson assisted Passwater with the next goal, which was then followed by another unassisted Stevensville goal. Stevensville scored again in the beginning of the second half, and Bigfork was unable to get in another goal.

“We just got tired, so we couldn’t put as much pressure on them as we did in the first half,” Buxton said after the game.

Since the game was non-conference Buxton used the match as a change to try players in different positions and get a feel for the team.“It was a great game in that we learned a lot about our players,” he said.

And though they lost, the highlight of the match for Buxton was the teamwork used to score their second goal. A pass from Zavala, to Thomson and onto Passwater “was just perfect,” Buxton said. “We’d like to see that 20 times a game.”

The next two games for Bigfork on Friday and Saturday, are also non-conference and Buxton plans to use the matches to continue to prepare the team for the first conference game against Polson Sept. 18.

Bigfork plays at Belgrade Friday, and against Park County in Livingston on Saturday. Belgrade played in the state semifinals last year, and Park is the defending state champion.

“It will be a good game this weekend and a great warmup for our conference games,” Buxton said.

Bigfork at Frenchtown

Bigfork 3-0

Carson Cantrell (Zavala assist)

Kyle Thomson (Cantrell assist)

Kyle Thomson (Cantrell assist)

Shots on goal – Bigfork 11, Frenchtown 8. Saves – Bigfork 8 (Ben Russell), Frenchtown 5 (Bridger Truett). Corner kicks – Bigfork 2, Frenchtown 4. Total fouls – Bigfork 2, Frenchtown 4. Cards – none.

Stevensville at Bigfork

3-2 Stevensville

Shots on goal – Stevensville 9, Bigfork 7. Saves — Bigfork 9, Stevensville 5. Fouls —Stevensville 8, Bigfork 0.