Girls lose to Laurel in playoffs

Hungry Horse News

They shut down Laurel’s best player in Mya Maack. But the lady Wildcats had a tough time with the rest of the team as they lost to the Locomotives in the first round of the playoffs Saturday, 3-1 on the road.

Whether it’s Laurel or Billings Central, the east has had Columbia Falls’ number in the playoffs for years now.

Laurel scored 7 minutes into the contest and then added another goal at the 28-minute mark. Maack wouldn’t score in the contest.

The Cats responded with a goal by Maddie Robison 67 minutes in to make it 3-1, but wouldn’t get beyond that.

Robison, a senior, ends the season with 27 goals.

“Maddie will go down as one of the best players to ever play for Columbia Falls,” coach Thomas Clark said.

Senior Cheyanne Johnston-Heinz had 21 goals on the year, not far behind.

“They’ll be missed,” Clark noted.

But Clark said there’s a lot of upcoming talent in the coming classes and they still have a solid core of young players waiting to make their marks as well.

The junior high program had 55 boys and girls soccer players in it inaugural season this year.

“We’re excited about them,” Clark said.