C-Falls soccer seasons end with pair of close losses

Columbia Falls suffered a pair of heartbreaking losses to end both the boys and girls soccer seasons last week as the Wildcats fell in Polson Tuesday while the Wildkats fell at home Saturday.

The boys found themselves matched up with second-ranked Polson for the third time this season as the teams battled in a playoff play-in game Tuesday. The Cats led the majority of the game before Polson scored at 76 minutes to knot the score at two and force overtime. The score remained tied for two overtimes before Polson finally outscored the Cats on penalty kicks, 6-5.

“If you are going to lose a game, that was the way to do it. They gave everything, literally everything,” head coach O’Brien Byrd said. “We had a game plan that we executed almost perfectly. We were almost flawless for almost 100 minutes of soccer and penalty kicks. I was so proud of them.”

Jason Albin and Payton Fisher scored the two goals for the Cats in regulation, with assists from Fisher and Bridger Wenzel.

John Gilk, Fisher, Noah Golan, Johnny Carl and Dillon Wanner all converted their penalty kicks.

“It was a very good team that beat us, but that very good team had to have a little luck on their side,” Byrd said. “That was also what separated us. They were lucky to get that win.”

The Wildkats found themselves in a tough fight Saturday as they hosted Laurel in the state quarterfinals.

The Kats took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Maddie Robison two minutes into the contest, but Laurel would eventually come away with a 2-1 win in double overtime.

“I truly believe we were playing the best team in the state. They are defending state champs with playoff experience and a great coach,” Byrd said. “We really got a tough draw.”

The Kats had more than one opportunity to add to their lead in the opening half, but another shot by Robison bounced off the post and another missed the goal by mere inches.

“Luck really seemed to be the difference in this game as well,” Byrd said. “Once they survived the first half against us, they dominated us for most of the second half and the overtimes. They’re a hard team to beat.”

Despite the loss, Byrd said he was very proud of his young team, which should return 15 players next season.

“The girls left it all out there,” he said. “Physically, it was not a soccer game, it was a war. There was pain. There was suffering and physical exertion, and we never gave up.”