The Columbia Falls boys soccer squad secured third place in the Northern A conference last week, beating Bigfork at home, 4-3, last Tuesday and Libby on the road Friday, 6-0. The Cats outshot the Loggers, 38-2. Auguste Emond scored four goals in the win.

Against Bigfork, they overcame a slow start to get the win after an improved Vikings squad went up 1-0 just five minutes into the tilt.

Jakob Grein tied it up at the 40-minute mark and Emond scored 11 minutes later to make it 2-1. But Bigfork responded with a goal and it was tied 2-2 at the break.

Emond put the Cats up 3-2 when his free kick at the 57-minute mark from about 30 yards out found the back of the net. Alex Garate then added an insurance goal to make it 4-2.

An own goal made the final 4-3.

Coach O’Brien Byrd noted they switched Emond to forward, and it’s made a big difference. Emond has a big leg and can score from 30 yards out, easy. He leads the team in scoring with 12 goals.

The Cats now face Frenchtown on the road Saturday in the opening round of the playoffs at noon.

Byrd said they expect Frenchtown to be a tough game, but the Cats have confidence.

“We’re going down there for the win,” he said.

They’ll have to do it without their starting goalie. Story Stemborski is out for the season after appendix surgery. In his place is junior varsity keeper Niels Getts. Getts is a good keeper, Byrd noted.

Columbia Falls 2 4 — 6

Libby 0 0 — 0

CF — Auguste Emond (Jakob Grein), 2:00

CF — Seth Hoffman (Emond), 7:00

CF — Emond (Skylar Chute), 44:00

CF — Emond, 57:00

CF — Emond, 64:00

CF — Alex Garate (Chute), 72:00

Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 38, Libby 2; Corner kicks — Columbia Falls 14, Libby 1; Goalie saves — Columbia Falls 2 (Niel Getts), Libby 19 (Tyler Lucas); Fouls — Columbia Falls 4, Libby 1; Cards — None.

Bigfork 1 2 — 3

Columbia Falls 1 3 — 4

B — Alex Buenz (Jacob Herd), 5:00

C — Jakob Grein (Jakob Iken), 40:00

C — Auguste Emond (Grein), 51:00

B — Jeremy Herd, 53:00

C — Emond, 57:00

C — Alex Garate (Skylar Chute), 58:00

B — Own goal, 61:00

Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 15, Bigfork 7. Corner kicks — Columbia Falls 6, Bigfork 5. Goalie saves — Columbia Falls (Story Stemborski) 4, Bigfork (Castor Conley) 11. Fouls — Columbia Falls 13, Bigfork 10. Cards — None.