Boys improve to 3-0 with thrashing of Corvallis
Otto Anderson weaves through defenders during the Wildcats win over Corvallis. Seth Anderson Photo.
By BRANDON HANSEN
For the Hungry Horse News
Columbia Falls faced up against a young Corvallis team and scorched past them for a 6-0 victory on Saturday, Sept. 7. While Corvallis was the team that knocked the Wildcats out of the playoffs last year, this year’s rendition is much younger and has a new coach.
“We got a lot of out of the game,” Columbia Falls O’Brien Byrd said. “Sometimes in a game like this, it can be hard to keep intensity high, but our guys stuck to our tactics and executed the game plan almost to perfection.”
Columbia Falls had 32 shots on goal as they aggressively attacked with their players.
“We’re at times leaving two defenders back when we attack,” Byrd said. “It’s fun to watch, a little more risky, but that’s exciting and there is even more emphasis to not give up possession of the ball.”
Max Everett had his second hat trick of the season, while Bruno Vazquez, River Wolford, and Otto Anderson also added goals in the win that improved Columbia Falls to 3-0 on the year.
“Max is second in the state in goals scored,” Byrd said. “We play a brand of soccer where five to six guys can score. And if you see that score, there was a Herculean effort of four to five passes that eventually got to the scorer. It’s funny we rotate so much. If you’re playing defense, one moment there is a guy standing next to you, and over the next 20 minutes, that guy will change 5-6 different times.”
Rafe Rusche posted his third shutout as goalkeeper for the season. A streak not to take lightly.
“I think even Rafe would say it’s due to team defense in front of him and midfielders and center backs doing a heck of a job taking away all of the threats,” Byrd said. “But when you start the season with zero goals in three games, that’s always a nice state to have as a goalkeeper.”
Byrd said that the team has been working on finishing possessions better and addressing it in practice. With 32 shots in the game, there were chances to make the score even higher for the Wildcats.
“We just have to keep learning and keep getting better,” Byrd said. “You can never be perfect but by gosh, we are going to chase perfection.”
Columbia Falls hosts Northwest A Conference foe Bigfork on Thursday. Gametime is 5 p.m.