Girls varsity soccer looking as sharp as last year

The Columbia Falls girls varsity soccer team is returning after a great previous season, and the athletes are poised to pick up right where they left off.

Spirits are high as the Wildkats get back on the field, bolstered by the momentum of last year’s success and fired up after a hiatus on ball playing imposed by the coronavirus.

“The morale is awesome. That’s from the coaching staff down through every single one of our players,” said head varsity coach Thomas Clark. “I just feel like the culture is incredibly healthy. The girls are excited to come to practice, excited to work hard. A lot of kids obviously didn’t get to participate in spring athletics and they just want to get back on the field and compete.”

The team is looking even stronger than the previous season. The program, which has steadily grown over the past few years, has only increased its number of skilled athletes. Only five or six years ago, Columbia Falls didn’t even have a junior varsity squad, and now with a program of 31 girls, the benches are stacked deep with players that can readily sub out for varsity members.

“I’ve got a number of kids that can go in off the bench and even raise the level of play in certain aspects, and certainly do the job that they’re asked to do. So I’m lucky in that regard,” said Clark. “It’s a good problem to have, you know, when you have a lot of good players that can earn playing time; you have to find a way to get them in the game. It’s a testament to the work that they’ve put in.”

Last year the team came through with the second best record in school history. The Wildkats ended the year undefeated in conference with a 12-2 overall record, and finished the season in the semifinals of the state tournament. Their signature game came earlier in the season in a 2-1 win against Laurel, who later took the state championship.

“There’s a lot of pressure on returning players to have an equally impressive season, and they’re taking that in stride and handling that very well. I’m just excited to see them perform,” said Clark.

The team lost several defensive players to graduation, but Clark feels they have already recouped those losses. This year the Wildkats

are boasting strong team leadership in senior captains Ave McDonald, LaKia Hill and Kate Hatfield. They also have strong returning players in Zoey Byrd as a sophomore stepping into the role of goalkeeper, Cheyenne Johnston-Heinz as right midfielder, and Sydney Mann as center back.

Leading the team is junior Maddie Robison, a two-year all-state player who holds the school record in number of assists in a single year at 15, and the record in career assists at 25. “Honestly I feel like Maddie can be the most dangerous player in the state,” said Clark. “She’s incredibly technically skilled, and she’s at a different level athletically than any other girl that’s in our conference and probably in the state of Montana. So she’s ready to come in and dominate and she’s going to pull the strings for us this year.”

Senior captain McDonald, who was previously the head goalkeeper, is out for the season due to an ACL injury but was uniquely retained in the program as part of the coaching staff.

“The sky’s the limit for this team and I know coaches tend to say that every year but, but I really feel that way,” said Clark.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, Clark said the team is following county and state mandates, wearing masks and just hoping to make it through the season. The Wildkats face Corvallis at home for their opening match at noon on Friday, Aug. 28.