Girls notch a pair of wins, look forward to Laurel

ungry Horse News

Tayler Lingle scored five goals in her first two games as the Columbia Falls soccer team dropped Hamilton 5-2 on Friday and Loyola Sacred Heart 9-0 on Saturday.

Lingle, a speedy sophomore, had a pair of scores against the Lady Broncs on Friday and a hat trick against Loyola.

Coach Thomas Clark noted Lingle played some last year as a freshman, but then got injured.

“She’s a raw explosive athlete who works extremely hard,” he said.

Clark was pleased with the overall effort by the squad in its first two games at home.

The Wildcats were knotted up with the Lady Broncs at two apiece with about 20 minutes or so left in the half, when the offense just poured it on to put the game away.

“It was an all around great effort by the girls,” Clark said.

Hope McAtee, Sydney Mann and Josie Harris also had goals against the Broncs. Taylor Rodgers had three assists to lead the Cats. Mila Johns and Bella Mann also looked sharp.

Against Loyola, it was all Columbia Falls.

In addition to Lingle’s hat trick, Mann had two goals, McAtee had two and Harris had one.

Lingle also had an assist on one of Mann’s goals.

Clark said the squad is approaching these early games as a preseason. They’ll be tested significantly this weekend when they head east to face Lockwood and Laurel.

Laurel has had the Cats’ number in the playoffs for several years now, so they’ll be a great test and Lockwood is improved as well.

“We’re going to play the way we want to play,” Clark said, noting he doesn’t plan any big adjustments against the Locomotives. “It’s a litmus test for where we’re at … We’re worried about ourselves.”