Wildcats find offense to down Libby, Bigfork

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team had a strong showing last week, picking up lopsided wins against Libby and Bigfork.

Five different Wildcats combined to score 16 goals last week (with an additional own goal from Bigfork) as Columbia Falls downed the Loggers in Libby 8-2 Tuesday and Bigfork 9-1 at home Saturday.

“We really needed to make run like that to get our confidence back up after that eastern trip. It was good to shake those memories off and get back to playing our brand of soccer,” Wildcat head coach O’Brien Byrd said. “We finally put, whistle-to-whistle, some complete games together, which all we can ask for right now. Now we can work on the finer details of the game.”

Simon Magg had the best two games of his career, scoring a hat trick against Libby Thursday before scoring five more goals against Bigfork Saturday. Johnny Carl scored three goals and added four assists in the two games last week while Jason Albin and Seth Hoffman each scored two and Mikey Tamburelli also had a goal. Niels Getts recorded three assists in the wins while Hoffman, Reed Sandstrom and Winslow Nichols added one each.

Freshman keeper Bryce Dunham also played well last week, playing the entire game and allowing just one goal to Libby Thursday before allowing no goals in more than 20 minutes of action Saturday.

“I am really excited about how Bryce is playing right now. He is the future for us at the goal keeper spot,” Byrd said. “When Story (Stemborski) graduates, Bryce will have some big shoes to fill and we confident he will be able to step right in an excel.”

The Cats play their biggest pair of game of the regular season this week as they faced Whitefish Tuesday evening and will take host Polson Thursday at 5 p.m.

“It’s a big week for us. We just need to go out and play Wildcat soccer, play with out hearts and show our grit and we will be able to hold our heads high,” Byrd said.