Boys hammer Vikings, Thompson Falls, beat Bulldogs 4-2 on the road

By BRANDON HANSEN

For the Hungry Horse News

Columbia Falls improved to 6-0 for the second time in 19 years with a 7-0 victory over Thompson Falls-Plains on Saturday, Sept. 14. The last time the team was 6-0 was in 2022, when the Wildcats won state.

Against Thompson Falls-Plains, Columbia Falls benefited from four goals by Maxwell Everett. Columbia Falls led 2-0 at halftime and then scored five goals in the second half.

“We have kind of been a second-half team,” Columbia Falls Head Coach O’Brien Byrd said. “Ideally, you want to play two halves and dominate and execute the game plan perfectly. It seems the more soccer we play, the better the game continues to get.”

Everett scored the game’s first goal in the fourth minute on a Jack Harris assist. Harris would score a goal of his own with a score in the 20th minute on an assist by Jackson Scholz.

Everett would score again in the 44th minute thanks to an assist from River Wolford, while Everett notched another goal in the 46th minute. Everett would score again in the 56th minute on an assist from Bruno Felijoo.

Columbia Falls’ Silas Ypma scored in the 63rd minute on an Arne Troy assist, while Troy would get a goal of his own in the 67th minute thanks to an Otto Anderson pass.

“The score is obviously important, but we have measures in which we have to analyze how we play,” Byrd said. “We have definitive marks we have to make during the game.”

While the finishing ratio has been slightly lower than desired, Byrd said that Columbia Falls continues to improve.

“How we score goals is in a fashion that can be replicated against any team for the most part,” Byrd said. “We create chances that could be used against the best team.”

Columbia Falls had 31 shots, while Thompson Falls had two.

“The first half saw these guys want to go pedal to the medal, which is great, but I think maybe there are nerves at play,” Byrd said. “Once things settled down, they are more calculated and calm.”

Columbia Falls blasted past Bigfork with a 9-2 victory in Northwest A Conference play on Thursday, Sept. 12. The Wildcats led 1-0 in the first half but again caught fire in the second stanza.

Bruno Felijoo scored the first goal for Columbia Falls in the 22nd minute on an assist for River Wolford. After the half, Wolford would score in the 43rd minute, assisted by Arne Troy. Eleven minutes later, Jack Harris would score on an assist from Wolford.

Felijoo scored again in the 58th minute. Maxwell Everett scored in the 67th minute, assisted by Jackson Scholz, and again in the 69th minute, assisted by Harris. Unofficially, Everett is leading the state in goals.

Wolford scored his second goal of the game in the 71st minute, while Wolford assisted William Oberholtzer in the 77th minute. Everett completed the hat trick with a goal in the 78th minute on an assist from Sholz.

Maxwell Everett scored a hat trick, including the go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute, and Columbia Falls knocked off defending state champion Whitefish 4-2 in boys soccer Tuesday. 

“It was good day,” Columbia Falls boys’ coach O’Brien Byrd said. “There was a dance party in the parking lot, for at least two songs. “Max, I think it’s his fifth hat track in six games.” 

Whitefish’s goals marked the third and fourth scored upon the Wildcats (6-0 overall, 3-0 league) this season. The Bulldogs fell to 4-2, 2-1 in the North A.  

“They’ve got a new look team and they gave us everything we possibly could take, right to the very end,” Byrd said. “We’re looking forward to playing them again.”