COLUMBIA FALLS — Last fall, Laurel and Columbia Falls met on the Wildkats home turf to decide the Class A state girls championship.

Saturday, in the first round of the Class A playoffs, they did it again.

And unfortunately for the home team, the result was the same.

Laurel scored the last three goals to upend the Wildkats, 3-1, and end the prep careers of nine Columbia Falls seniors.

“Overall, they outplayed us. I’m going to give them credit,” Columbia Falls coach Greg Trennery said.

The Wildkats (8-3-2) beat Laurel earlier in the season — a 2-0 win on Sept. 11 — and convincingly won the Northwestern A conference. The young Locomotives (6-4-1), however, were the better side throughout on Saturday and kept alive their quest for a second straight state title.

Columbia Falls looked out of sync early but was able to find a goal in the 20th minute when Ellie Johnson lobbed a cross to the far post that was tapped in by Madison Snyer.

Following the goal, Laurel would continue to control the possession and was able to get the equalizer 10 minutes later on a run through the middle of the defense by Raquel Jimenez.

“We had some problems with their 4-4-2 (formation) so we actually switched at half and it helped us a little bit,” Trenerry said.

“And then they got that other goal and we let up again.”

The formation switch did help the Wildkats possess the ball and generate a few chances, but just eight minutes into the second half Ashtyn Hoppel netted the winner. Laurel would score again in the 61st minute to put the match away.

“Their last two goals were just major defensive errors,” Trenerry said.

Each team managed only seven shots on goal, and the usually potent Wildkats tandem of Johnson and Hannah Gedlaman was unable to get any clean looks.

“They pulled the trap a little bit and we were offside on a lot of things that should have been good balls for us,” Trenerry said of the Locomotives defense. “We just weren’t watching the line and they did a good job of stepping up and pulling the trap.”

The Wildkats’ nine-member senior class includes Johnson, keeper Allyson Gimbel and 2014 all-state picks Tavia Bechtel, Lexi Strouse and Sydney Grilley.

“(The seniors) are a great group and we’re still very proud of them,” Trenerry said. “When they were freshmen they got to the (state) final and last year they got to the final. They won three out of four conference titles. They accomplished a lot and we are proud of them.”

Katie Price, Natasha Martin, Ashley Miller and Miranda Livingston round out the Wildkats’ senior class.

Laurel advances to take on Hamilton in the state semifinals.

Laurel 1 2 — 3

Columbia Falls 1 0 — 1

CF—Madison Snyer (Ellie Johnson), 20:00

LRL—Raquel Jimenez (unassisted), 30:00

LRL—Ashtyn Hoppel (Jimenez), 48:00

LRL—Jessica Elmer (Maysa Walters), 61:00

Shots on goal — Laurel 7, Columbia Falls 7. Saves — Laurel 5 (Paige O’Toole), Columbia Falls 4 (Allyson Gimbel). Corner kicks — Laurel 5, Columbia Falls 4. Fouls — Laurel 6, Columbia Falls 4. Cards — None.

Hamilton 1, Belgrade 1

Hamilton advances 2-1 on penalty kicks

Belgrade 0 1 0 0 — 1

Hamilton 0 1 0 0 — 1

Shootout -- Hamilton, Baylie Duce, Mallory McGill. Belgrade, Kendall Betchke

B — Mariah Morgan (unassisted), 55:00

H — Reilly Rosstad (Kendal Gordon), 65:00

Shots on goal — Belgrade 13, Hamilton 11. Saves — Belgrade 8 (Emily Cady), Hamilton 11 (Larami Schara). Corner kicks — Belgrade 2, Hamilton 4. Fouls — Belgrade 5, Hamilton 6.