Boys soccer: Wildcats take conference crown with tie against Bulldogs
Hungry Horse News
The season's win streak is over, but the Columbia Falls Boys soccer team still won the North A boys soccer conference title by virtue of a tie against Whitefish Tuesday night at home to cap off the regular season.
The visiting Bulldogs jumped ahead in the 10th minute, with Preston McPherson scoring off a helper from Kyle Jonson.
But Wildcat Bruno Felijo’s equalizer, his 13th of the season, came on a penalty kick in the 30th minute. The Wildcats ended their regular season 11-0-1 overall, 7-0-1 in the North A.
“Credit to Whitefish, I believe they were the better team at points in that match and gave us everything we could handle,” Wildcats coach O’Brien Byrd said. “Our keeper Rafe Rusche had an excellent game, keeping us in it after the Bulldogs had flurries of chances in both halves.
“It was a great team performance. Everyone that took part in that game helped get us across the line. They boys are riding high right now and are happy to close the regular season with a great result.”
The boys now face the third team from the South in the playoffs. A time and date hasn't been set.
Last Thursday, the Wildcats dispatched Northwest A Conference foe Libby 3-0.
In their 3-0 victory over Libby, Columbia Falls contended with a smaller field size and an improved Logger team.
“They were a lot more organized in this game compared to when we first played them,” Byrd said. “They really packed it in and made it tough for us to score.”
A shorter field means less ground to cover for defenders, but Columbia Falls did score a goal in the first minute, scored by Jack Harris, assisted by Isak Soyland.
It would stay that way for the next 52 minutes until Maxwell Everett passed the ball to Harris for his second goal of the game Feligo would score 15 minutes after that on another Everett assist for the victory.
Columbia Falls had 14 shots, while Libby had eight. Rafe Rusche made eight saves at keeper, and the Wildcats had nine corner kicks.
“Jack has been a top senior leader for us, and with us struggling to find the back of the net, he really came through with those two goals,” Byrd said.
Byrd was also pleased with the shutout victory, as even in big wins during the season, the Wildcats have seen the other team get a goal or two through the net.
“It was nice to get a clean slate,” Byrd said. “We’ve given up some uncharacteristic goals this season, and I think we’re sorting out those defensive frailties as our defense limited the risk by holding their opponent to a few chances.”
He credited Connor Zumalt, Ethan Henjum, and Rusche for being impactful on the defensive side of the ball.
Jack Harris collides with a Whitefish defender.