Girls soccer goes 1-1 on its road trip to Laurel, Lockwood

Hungry Horse News

The Columbia Falls girls soccer team split on its eastern road trip, losing to longtime rival Laurel 5-0, Friday, but blanking Lockwood 3-0, Saturday.

Laurel took a 2-0 lead into the second half and then added three more in the second. 

The Wildcats put six shots on the Locomotives, challenging Laurel’s goalkeeper Raelynn Wagner. 

The Cats bounced back against Lockwood Saturday. 

Onnikka Lawrence scored a pair of goals and Riley Byrd added a goal and an assist for Columbia Falls  

Lawrence found the opener just before the halftime break after being set up by Taylor Rodgers.  

Out of the half, Byrd doubled the lead with a 49th minute goal. Lawrence sealed the game with the Wildcats (1-1) third just seven minutes later.  

Columbia Falls outshot Lockwood (0-2) 13-4, forcing Kennedy Krebs into 10 saves.  

“The Laurel game was a real wake up call for the girls on the level of physicality that some teams will bring this year. It was also a game that highlighted how important it is to finish your chances when you get them,” coach Thomas Clark said. “I was so proud of how the girls responded from a tough first game and really put on a dominant performance in every aspect of the game against a Lockwood team that was in the semi-finals last year.” 

“We have a lot of work to do, but this team is young and the sky is the limit when they put it all together,” Clark added. 

The girls face Corvallis at home Saturday. Gametime is noon.