Soccer: Girls roll over Bigfork, Thompson Falls, tie Bulldogs

By BRANDON HANSEN

For the Hungry Horse News

Columbia Falls got a big tune-up against Thompson Falls on Saturday, Sept. 14, downing them 7-0 while outshooting the Blue Hawks 30-3.

“It was a huge confidence boost,” Columbia Falls Coach Thomas Clark said. “We have been really pushing how we attack, creating chances and finishing those chances.”

The Wildcats have scored 22 goals in their last three games, before their rivalry matchup against Whitefish on Tuesday.

Columbia Falls jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead thanks to a goal by Onnika Lawrence on an assist from Bella Mann in the 19th minute. Lawrence would score again four minutes later from a pass by Evie Door.

Isla Alexander scored in the 27th minute, assisted by Harper Holloway, while Taylor Rodgers scored solo in the 45th minute. Nine minutes later, Lawrence finished her hat trick thanks to a pass by Alexander.

Alexander would score on passes from Mann and Rodgers to post a hat trick of her own. This is despite her usually playing a defensive role. Dorr, only a freshman, has been playing solidly against older competition in the midfield, while the defensive players have allowed just one goal in four games.

Facing conference foe Bigfork on Thursday, Sept. 12, Columbia Falls outshot the Valkryies 25-9 en route to a 5-1 victory.

Isla Alexander scored on an Onnika Lawrence pass in the third minute and would score seven minutes later.

Taryn Borgen scored in the 28th minute on a Mila Johns assist, and then Johns scored again, assisted by Riley Byrd, in the 42nd minute.

Lawrence notched Columbia Falls’ final goal thanks to a pass from Bella Mann in the 62nd minute.

“Our girls are confident, which is huge,” Thomas said. “We know how soccer can go, and sometimes the score doesn’t reflect what happened during the game. However, our recent scores have been reflecting how strong they are as a team.”

On Tuesday, the Wildcats had a 3-1 lead with just 8 minutes left, but Whitefish scored twice to tie it. 

Evie Dorr had put Columbia Falls ahead 1-0, and Riley Byrd and Taylor Rogers each found the next as the Kats went up 3-1 in the second half. Byrd assisted on Rogers’ goal. 

“The girls played really well, especially throughout the majority of the second half and scored some fantastic goals,” Clark said. “Championship-caliber teams know how to put teams away, and this something we will continue to work on and learn from.”