Girls soccer squad on a scoring streak heading into playoffs

The Columbia Falls girls soccer squad ended the season with an exclamation point, tromping Bigfork at home last Tuesday 8-1 and walloping Libby on the road 10-2 to secure the Northern A conference crown.

Senior Hannah Gedlaman had five goals against Bigfork and four goals against Libby to lead the Lady Wildcats in scoring.

The Cats took a 4-0 lead at the half against the Valkyries and led Libby at the break 5-1.

Gedlaman has 24 goals on the season and six assists. Sophomore Josie Windauer has 17 goals and 10 assists.

Freshman Lakia Hill had a hat trick against the Loggers, giving her eight goals and eight assists for the regular season.

The girls ended the regular season with a 9-1-1 record. They will host Stevensville (6-4-2) in the first round of the playoffs Saturday at 7 p.m. at home.

Coach O’Brien Byrd likes the way the Cats are playing.

“We’re finding lots of opportunities to score. Our offense is clicking really well,” he said.

But the Cats need to tighten their defensive effort a bit, he noted.

Stevensville should be a tough match. They tied the Cats earlier this year.

If the Cats get by the Lady Yellowjackets, they’d likely face longtime playoff foe Billings Central (10-0-2) in the semifinals. If they can win that game, they’d host the state championship.

Bigfork 0 1 — 1

Columbia Falls 4 4 — 8

C — Hannah Gedlaman (Hannah Callender), 22:00

C — Gedlaman (Lakia Hill), 36:00

C — Gedlaman (Callender), 38:00

C — Gedlaman (Josie Windauer), 39:00

C — Callender, 42:00

C — Gedlaman (Graceanne Sevesind), 47:00

C — Windauer (Gedlaman), 54:00

B — Jordan Nelson, 64:00

C — Macey Sandefer (Joyce Hatfield), 74:00

Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 42, Bigfork 5. Corner kicks — Columbia Falls 8, Bigfork 1. Goalie saves — Columbia Falls (Madeline Jarvis) 4, Bigfork (Ellie Berreth) 28. Fouls — Columbia Falls 5, Bigfork 2. Cards — None.

Columbia Falls 5 5 — 10

Libby 1 1 — 2

CF — Josie Windauer (Macey Sandefer), 9:00

CF — Lakia Hill (Windauer), 14:00

CF — Hannah Gedlaman (Hill), 23:00

CF — Windauer (Sandefer), 24:00

L — Zoie Spady, 33:00

CF — Hill (Windauer), 38:00

CF — Gedlaman (Flora Jarvis), 45:00

CF — Gedlaman, 51:00

CF — Hill (Windauer), 52:00

CF — Kaylee Ashe, 55:00

L — Abby Creighton, 57:00

CF — Gedlaman (Katy Garate), 60:00

Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 31, Libby 6; Corner kicks — Columbia Falls 5, Libby 1; Goalie saves — Columbia Falls 4 (Madeline Jarvis), Libby 21 (Bethany Thomas); Fouls — Columbia Falls 4, Libby 2; Cards — None.