WHITEFISH — Columbia Falls got out to an early lead and never relented, topping rival Whitefish 3-0 in a Northern A conference match at Smith Fields on Thursday afternoon.

Wildcats senior Logan Stephens got Columbia Falls on the board in the sixth minute, netting an assist from Hunter Pederson. The tally doubled in stoppage time before half when Jon Sigurdsson added a penalty kick goal to make the score 2-0.

Columbia Falls freshman Skylar Chute added a goal in the 50th minute to cap the scoring.

“We are step by step, slowly putting together a team that’ll play the way we’re supposed to play. They’ll play Wildcat soccer,” Columbia Falls coach O’Brien Byrd said.

“It’s been a process that started last year and has gone on until this day. We are starting to see more and more confidence out of these young men. They need to be confident. They’re good. (But,) if you don’t play with confidence, it doesn’t matter how good you are, you won’t win.”

The Wildcats outshot Whitefish 14-9 and had seven corner kicks to the Bulldogs’ three.

Columbia Falls 2 1 — 3

Whitefish 0 0 — 0

CF—Logan Stephens (Hunter Peterson), 6:00

CF—Jon Sigurdsson, PK, 40:00

CF—Skylar Chute (Jakob Grein), 50:00

Shots on goal —Columbia Falls 14, Whitefish 9; Goalie saves—Columbia Falls 8 (Brandon Karberg), Whitefish 8 (Marty Anderson); Corner kicks—Columbia Falls 7, Whitefish 3; Fouls—Columbia Falls 5, Whitefish 10; Cards—Whitefish, 1 yellow.

Polson 3, Libby 0

POLSON — Michael Mercer accounted for all the goals as Polson rolled by Libby in a Northern A contest.

Mercer had one goal in the first half at the 25-minute mark.

Michael Vergeront, Nico River and Robin Erickson assisted on the scoring.

Polson had 19 shots on goal to four for Libby.

Libby 0 0 —­ 0

Polson 1 2 ­— 3

P — Michael Mercer (Michael Vergeront), 25:00

P — Mercer (Nico River), 49:00

P — Mercer (Robin Erickson), NA

Shots on goal — Libby 4, Polson 19; Goalie saves — Libby 16, Polson 4 (Smith); Corner kicks — Libby 1, Polson 4; Fouls — Libby 7, Polson 10; Cards – None.

GIRLS

Polson 11, Libby 0

POLSON — Polson crashed the net for four goals in the first 14 minutes of play to whip Libby in a Northern A match.

Tiara Duford had three goals and one assist.

Jessica Taylor had three goals along with three assists.

Marina Mayorga also had three goals.

Polson had 21 shots on goal to Libby’s four.

Libby 0 0 — 0

Polson 6 5 — 11

P — Amber Clarke (Janessa Taylor), 2:00

P — Tiara Duford (Taylor), 5:00

P — Taylor (Duford), 10:00

P — Ashlee Howell, 14:00

P — Marina Mayorga, 22:00

P — Duford (Howell), 37:00

P — Mayorga (Clarke), 45:00

P — Taylor (Howell), 48:00

P — Taylor (Alana Fox), 53:00

P — Mayorga (Howell), 72:00

P — Duford (Taylor), 74:00

Shots on goal — Libby 4, Polson 21; Goalie saves — Libby 11 (Shannon Leny), Polson 3 (Jenna Evertz); Corner kicks — Libby 4, Polson 7. Fouls — Libby 3, Polson 2; Cards — None.

Whitefish 3, Columbia Falls 2

WHITEFISH — Whitefish gave up two quick goals, but rebounded to topple Columbia Falls in a Northern A matchup.

Kaylee Ashe and Hannah Gedlaman scored at 10 and 11 minutes to put the Wildkats quickly in front, 2-0.

Goals by Whitefish’s Haley Nicholson and Melissa Pollard, 17 and 21 minutes, tied it up.

Nicholson nailed the game-winner at 57 minutes.

“We got into a passing game, into our rhythm and created chances,” Whitefish coach Roland Benedict said after his team fell behind early.

Whitefish (5-2 overall, 3-0 league) held a slight edge in shots on goal, 8-6, and in corner kicks, 2-0.

Columbia Falls 2 0 — 2

Whitefish 2 1 — 3

CF — Kaylee Ashe, 10:00

CF — Hannah Gedlaman (Ashe), 11:00

W — Haley Nicholson, 17:00

W — Melissa Pollard (Nicholson), 21:00

W — Nicholson (Mckayla Stone), 57:00

Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 6, Whitefish 8; Goalie saves — Columbia Falls 5 (Madeline Jarvis), Whitefish 4 (Kess Nelson); Corner kicks — Columbia Falls 0, Whitefish 2; Fouls — NA; Cards — NA.