The Columbia Falls boys soccer team was knocked out of the Class A playoffs by the Corvallis Blue Devils on Saturday, Oct. 14 with a 2-1 loss.

Going in, the Wildcats coaches made a thorough game plan addressing the strengths and weaknesses of their competitor. The players worked hard in practice to be ready. Coach O’Brien Byrd said the weather was perfect, everyone was healthy, in good spirits and well-prepared heading out onto the field in Corvallis on Saturday.

“Those guys went out and executed the plan perfectly in the first half ­­ — we dominated,” Byrd said.

Two minutes in, senior Kai Golan put up a goal from a free kick, the 68th of his career, and tied the state record. Going into the second half, the Cats were still dominating control of the ball.

In the 47th minute, Blue Devil Enzo Monzier tied it up and Jack Hansen gave them the lead not 10 minutes later.

Cats’ keeper Rafe Rusche made seven saves. Byrd said the Cats stuck to the game plan and worked hard the whole match, it just came down to luck.

“It was kind of like a gut punch,” Byrd said of the loss. The Blue Devils just hung on, “long enough to survive us.”

“We have arguably the most talented team in the state, but we’re young,” Byrd said, noting that the Cats have nine new faces on their starting lineup this year.

“Sometimes talent can’t beat experience,”Byrd said.

Byrd was extremely proud of his players, with special kudos to seniors Golan, Traic Fainter, Ben Martin and Cash Byrd for setting great examples for the younger players and dedicating themselves to the program.

“There was an element of pride in the way we played this season,” he said, “They gave everything they had to this team, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”

The Cats ended with 10-3-1, losing only to Whitefish and Corvallis.

Next season, the Cats will see many returning players. “Our JV is by far the most talented they have been in a long time,” Byrd said, “They only lost one game… The future is very bright.”