In their inaugural season of high school varsity soccer, the Thompson Falls-Plains boys’ and girls' teams are experiencing what might be considered a baptism under fire.

In matches against established high school teams, the Blue Hawks squads have had their share of highs and lows. 

But optimism remains and determination remains as they press on with a schedule packed with opponents with varsity level experience. 

Despite a pair of losses by both squads, they continue to build on the positives they have. 

The boys lost a pair of home matches this past week, falling to Bigfork this past Tuesday, 4-1, then losing to Whitefish Saturday afternoon by a 9-1 score. 

In both matches, the boys played hard in the first half, as they have all season so far.  They were tied 1-1 at the half in their match versus Bigfork, with Liam Pallister scoring the Blue Hawks lone goal.  They yielded three goals to the Vikings in the second 40 minutes of play. 

Then, in their match against Whitefish, Pallister once again scored the lone Thompson Falls-Plains goal, this one in the second half. 

Head coach Michael Scharfe remained positive as the new kids on the varsity block work hard to improve. 

“This season we have typically been a first half team,” he said. “This game (vs Whitefish) we played better in the second half.  We made some adjustments at halftime and it was good to see those adjustments pay off”. 

Pallister’s goal against Whitefish came after a he “crashed” the goal and stayed with the shot until it found the back of the net, coach Scharfe said. 

“Even though we lost, our boys continue to grow and play better overall each game,” he added. 

The girls also had a tough pair of home matches agaiinst the same two schools, losing to Bigfork 9-1, and falling to Whitefish 9-3 Saturday. 

In the game versus Bigfork, Thompson Falls-Plains standout Katherine Wrobleski continued her assault on goal with a first half score, the team’s only goal of the game.  That goal pushed her total to six for the season.  Bigfork had two players score three goals each in their victory. 

Saturday afternoon, Whitefish and Thompson Falls girls were tied 2-2 at the half.  The Lady Hawks goals came on a long breakaway run and score, followed a short time later by a goal that was taken away from the Whitefish goalie and pushed into the net by T Falls-Plains. 

However, Whitefish regrouped at the half and outscored the Hawks 7-1 in the second half. 

Thompson Falls-Plains has just one match scheduled for this week, a pair of road contests against Columbia Falls this Friday. 

    Blue Hawks sophomore Landin Baird (blue jersey) battles Bigfork's Quinn Kerr for control of the ball during their match this past Saturday in Thompson Falls. (Photo by Tracy Scott)