The playoff journey for Columbia Falls, along with the rest of Class A, officially started last Saturday with quarterfinal play.

But in terms of the word journey, this is it for the Wildkats (8-1-4).

The Northern champions head east to face Eastern and six-time defending state champion Billings Central (11-0-2) on Saturday at Wendy’s Field at Rocky Mountain College. The match begins at 1 p.m.

“We kind of knew all along it would kind of be like that,” Columbia Falls coach Greg Trenerry said of being in Billings for the semifinal round.

“We were kind of prepared for it.”

While the Wildkats are traveling, Whitefish (6-5-2) has the luxury of playing at home Saturday. Like Columbia Falls, Laurel (10-2-2) will have the long trip across state to face the Bulldogs at Smith Fields. That match begins at 2 p.m.

The Billings Central/Columbia Falls winner hosts the state championship match on Nov. 1.

Those two foes met two years ago in the Class A title match in Columbia Falls. Central rolled to a 6-0 triumph.

Lindsay Strouse scored three goals and assisted on another for Columbia Falls in its 5-0 triumph over Hamilton at Flip Darling Field last Saturday in the quarterfinals.

Whitefish pulled out a 2-1 road victory at Hamilton, Billings Central cruised past Corvallis 5-0 and Laurel edged Polson 1-0.

Columbia Falls

at Billings Central

The two teams battled to a scoreless tie back on Sept. 12 in Columbia Falls.

Central had seven shots on goal to five for Columbia Falls. Corner kicks favored Central 8-5.

Natalie Ruessegger had five keeper save for Central and Alyson Gimbel four for the Wildkats.

This promises to be an intriguing matchup as Columbia Falls has allowed eight goals this fall and Central just one.

Central also tied Laurel 0-0.

“I thought we played them tough,” Trenerry said of the earlier Central meeting.

“I thought we got a little better as it went along. Our confidence also improved and we had some opportunities (to score).”

Trenerry said he expects this to be another midfield battle.

“It went back and forth (last time),” he said.

“They say games are won at midfield.”

Regarding the keeper ...

“She has done a good job,” Trenerry said of Gimbel.

“I think she catches the ball pretty well. She comes out on the ball pretty good. She also has a good defense in front of her.”

This is Gimbel’s first year as a varsity keeper.

“We know they are a real good team,” Trenerry said of Central.

“Well coached, disciplined. We’ll have to have a really good game, maybe our best game of the year.”

Central beat Whitefish 4-1 in last year’s state championship match in Billings.

Laurel at Whitefish

This pairing features the two highest scoring teams in the state.

Whitefish, led by sophomore Haley Nicholson, is second in goals scored with 39. Nicholson has 21.

Laurel had found the net 44 times. Raquel Jimenez has 13 goals and Allie McGrath 11.

Whitefish has lost just one match at Smith Fields this season.

“They are a good team,” Whitefish coach Wendy Farrens said of Laurel.

“They played Columbia Falls and a few teams we have faced. They are a good, strong, athletic team.”

Farrens said both teams play a similar style of ball.

“We just have to stick to our game, our gameplan,” she said.

“Play hard and match their intensity at least. It will be an athletic and aggressive soccer game.”

Nicholson scored the game-winning goal against Hamilton. Grace Kurtz had the other goal.

“She does her job very well and that’s to score goals,” Farrens said of Nicholson.

“She’s a very good soccer player. She’s had a lot of success this year because of the teammates around her.”

Farrens said Whitefish has “shaped up” defensively as the season has progressed. Kess Nelson, a sophomore, is Whitefish’s keeper.

“She’s improved a ton over the year,” Farrens said.

“She made some great saves against Hamilton.”

Boys

Whitefish at Belgrade

Belgrade (12-1-0) eliminated last year’s state runner-up — Stevensville — in the quarterfinals, 1-0, while Whitefish (8-3-2) needed some last-minute scoring heroics by Casey Ling to edge Hamilton 4-3.

Ling scored two goals in the final minutes of play to finish with a hat trick.

“That’s one (match) I won’t forget,” Whitefish coach O’Brien Byrd said.

“Now that I’ve had more time to think about it and to let it sink in, that was one of the gutsiests performances I’ve ever seen. A very impressive win for the Bulldogs ... awesome.

“There is still a little bit of fairy dust hanging around here,” he added.

“It definitely gave us a lot of conficence in ourselves.”

Belgrade and Whitefish met back in September in Belgrade with the Panthers claiming a 3-1 victory.

“We can’t wait to play them again,” Byrd said.

“They were the best team we faced (this year). They have a really impressive record. We’re excited to put them to the test. I hope the best team wins.”

Whitefish, which lost junior keeper Sam Benkelman to a high ankle sprain before the Columbia Falls match, will have him back for this one.

“That’s a real lift,” Byrd said.

Bigfork at Corvallis

Bigfork (7-4-2) rolled into the semifinal matchup by knocking off two-time defending state champion Livingston, 2-1, on a pair of goals by Kyle Thomson.

Corvallis (12-1-0) scored two goals in each half to eliminate Libby, 4-2, and advance.

“We had a full week to rest and recover,” Bigfork coach Bill Buxton said before beating Livingston.

“We played fantastic. We felt comfortable throughout the whole game.”

Buxton says Corvallis’ game revolves around one player — Alejandro Ortiz. He had two goals and an assist in the win over Libby.

“Their game ends and begins with Ortiz,” Buxton.

“I think he has scored 20 goals this year. We’ll obviously work to manage him. Besides that, we’re not afraid of them. We’ll attack them.”

Bigfork lost in the quarterfinals last year. This marks the Vikings third straight postseason appearance.

Thomson is the Northern division’s No. 3 scorer with 12 goals.

“Kyle obviously is great, but we’ve had a great season by a lot of players — Tyler Zavala, forward, Isaac Passwater, midfielder, Keegan Driver, center/fullback, and Ben Russell, goalkeeper. As strong as our offense is, our defense is twice as strong.”

Class A Playoffs

Semifinals

Boys

11 a.m. — Whitefish at Belgrade

1 p.m. — Bigfork at Corvallis

Girls

Noon — Columbia Falls vs. Billings Central at Wendy’s Field at Rocky Mountain College

2 p.m. — Laurel vs. Whitefish at Smith Fields