COLUMBIA FALLS — Lottie Ellis gave Columbia Falls a lift and new life just as the first half ended with her shot that bounced off the left post into the right back corner of the net, but the Wildkats couldn’t follow through in the final 40 minutes, losing 2-1 to Laurel on Saturday in the Class A girls state soccer championship match at Flip Darling Field.

Allie McGrath found the net first for Laurel on a shot that managed to get just under the crossbar and over the reach of Columbia Falls keeper Alyson Gimble at the 31-minute mark.

Then Jessica Elmer followed with a slow roller that some how slipped by Gimbel. Laurel controlled play for much of the first half and held what looked like a commanding 2-0 lead.

Columbia Falls had few opportunites in the opening session, but capitalized when Ellis had her chance.

For the match, Columbia Falls had just four shots on goal to 15 for Laurel.

“Hats off to Laurel,” Columbia Falls coach Greg Trenerry said.

“They had a great game.”

There were plenty of tears on the Columbia Falls side of the field when it was over as the Wildkats were seeking their second state championship. The Wildkats beat Laurel in the 2004 title match in Laurel 6-1.

This was the team’s fourth trip to the final. The last one was 2012, a 6-0 loss to Billings Central.

“Hold your heads up high,” Trenerry told his heartbroken players immediately after the match.

“You’re a great team.”

Columbia Falls, which captured its third Northwestern A Divisional title in the last four years last month, finished the season with a 9-2-4 mark.

“To get to the championship game is a journey,” Trenerry said.

“They had a tough road to get there.”

The Wildkats defeated Stevensville 5-0 in quarterfinal action at home then tripped six-time defending state champion Billings Central 3-2 in overtime the following weekend in the semifinals in Billings.

Laurel beat Polson 1-0 in the first round and Whitefish in the semifinals 3-0.

Laurel, which played back-to-back games in the Flathead Valley the last two weekends, wound up 12-2-2.

It’s also the first state championship for the Locomotives.

“It feels a little surreal now that it’s over,” Laurel coach Aloma Jess said.

“When they scored at the end of the half, they came out strong and we had to pick up the pace. This team (Wildkats) scares me. They know how to score with no time left. They are good at that.”

Columbia Falls had to make some game-day adjustments with Lexi Strouse, a junior defender, out with the flu.

Her sister Lindsay, a senior forward, was still recovering from it.

“Wish we would have had Lexi today,” Trenerry said.

In the boys championship match in Belgrade, Corvallis won a shootout with Belgrade 3-1.

Corvallis made its first three penalty kicks while Belgrade was one of four.

The match was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation and after two 10-minute overtime periods.

Laurel 2 0 — 2

Columbia Falls 1 0 — 1

LAUREL — Allie McGrath (Raquel Jimenez), 31:00; Jessica Elmer (McGrath), 36:00.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Lottie Ellis, 40:00.

Shots on goal — Laurel 15, Columbia Falls 4; Goalie saves — Laurel 3 (Paige O’Toole), Columbia Falls 9 (Alyson Gimbel); Corner kicks — Laurel 2, Columbia Falls 3; Fouls — Laurel 3, Columbia Falls 16; Cards — None.

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Boys Championship

Corvallis 2, Belgrade 2

Corvallis won shootout 3-1

Corvallis 1 1 0 0 — 2

Belgrade 1 1 0 0 —- 2

CORVALLIS — Emmett Semple, 22:00; Cayden Ayers, 69th

BELGRADE — Tyler Davis (Linus Twieling), 31:00; Davis (Justin McGowen), 74:00

Shots on goals — Corvallis 8, Belgrade 9; Goalie saves — Corvallis 9 (Shelby Gifford), Belgrade 4 (Clay Bost); Corner kicks — Corvallis 6, Belgrade 8; Fouls — Corvallis 10, Belgrade 11; Cards — None.

Shootout — Corvallis ( DJ Pekoc, Alejandro Ortiz and Cayden Ayers); Belgrade (Grant Jordan)