BILLINGS — Columbia Falls did something no one else has done for quite some time.

The Wildkats, champions of Northwestern A soccer for the third time in four years, knocked off Billings Central on Saturday in Class A semifinal girls soccer play at Wendy’s Field at Rocky Mountain College.

Lindsay Strouse scored three goals, the last one with less than a minute to play in overtime, for a 3-2 victory over the six-time defending state champions.

Central (11-1-2) had not lost a match in 54 outings. According to the Billings Gazette, the last time to beat the Rams was Belgrade in 2011.

Columbia Falls and Central battled to a scoreless tie in Columbia Falls in September.

The victory allows the Wildkats (9-1-4) to host Saturday’s championship match at Flip Darling Field. The Wildkats will face Laurel (11-2-2).

Laurel beat Whitefish 3-0 at Smith Fields in the other semifinal match.

“It was a great day, maybe the best day ever (for me and Wildkats soccer),” Columbia Falls coach Greg Trenerry said.

“It’s pretty big.”

Central took an early lead eight minutes into play on a goal by Makayla Kinzel.

Strouse tied it up with a goal two minutes into the second half.

Central, three minutes later, went on top 3-2 on Michaela Stock’s penalty kick.

Strouse tied it up again at 74 minutes.

Ellie Johnson assisted on both goals for Columbia Falls.

From there it was overtime.

“A very hard-fought game,” Trenerry said.

“We won it with 30 seconds left.”

Strouse was moved to the left wing for last week’s quarterfinals win over Stevensville. She scored three goals and had one assist in the 5-0 triumph.

“She’s really picked up her play a lot,” Trenerry said.

“She’s playing with a lot of confidence the last couple games.”

On her game-winning goal ...

“We did a counter attack on them (after a corner kick),” Trenerry said. “They only had two girls back. She beat the first defender and the second one. Their keeper came out a little bit and she put it in the left corner from 12 to 15 yards out.”

Columbia Falls had eight shots on goal to seven for Central.

Central had 11 corner kicks to none for Columbia Falls.

Alyson Gimbel had five goalie saves.

“The biggest thing, our team never gave up and never stopped believing they could win that game,” Trenerry said.

He said he told the girls to start hard and win balls before they took the field.

“I also told them it was a huge game for them. You win this game and you have a huge chance of winning state. I’m really proud of them.”

Columbia Falls played for the state title two years ago at Flip Darling Field versus Billings Central. Central won that game 6-0.

It snowed the night before that matchup and the field had to be cleared for play.

Columbia Falls 0 2 0 1 — 3

Billings Central 1 1 0 0 — 2

COLUMBIA FALLS — Lindsay Strouse (Ellie Johnson), 42:00; Strouse (Johnson), 74:00; Strouse, 99:00

BILLINGS CENTRAL — Makayla Kinzel (Jose Snyder), 8:00; Michaela Stock (PK), 45:00

Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 8, Billings Central 7; Goalie saves — Columbia Falls 5 (Alyson Gimbel); Billings Central 5 (Natalie Ruegsegger); Corner kicks — Columbia Falls 0, Billings Central 11; Fouls — Columbia Falls 7, Billings Central 4; Cards — None.