Cats drop Dogs to win conference crown
Hungry Horse News | Hungry Horse News | UPDATED 2 months, 2 weeks AGO
Brady Bell shoots on the Bulldog goal during the Wildcats win over Whitefish. Seth Anderson Photo.
The Columbia Falls boys soccer team rounded out a spectacular regular season last week, winning the conference crown in a road game against Whitefish, 2-1 Oct. 7.
With the win the Wildcats ended the regular season at 11-1, their only loss was to the Bulldogs at home in the second game of the year.
The Cats’ success is remarkable in that they had 11 players in new positions this year, as last year’s squad graduated nine seniors, coach O’Brien Byrd noted.
In the summer, Byrd thought it might be a rebuilding season, but then they played some AA squads in scrimmages, and he immediately saw the potential.
“We’re going to be good,” he surmised.
After the Whitefish loss 2-0 in week two, they’ve rattled off nine straight wins.
Against the Bulldogs last week the Wildcats struck first in the 25th minute when Whitefish scored an own goal. Jack Harris added another goal in the 50th minute off a pass from Brady Bell, extending the lead 2-0.
Another own goal occurred in the 58th minute, this time coming from the Wildcats side, giving the Bulldogs life. But goalie Brady Heitz protected the victory with 13 saves for Columbia Falls in a typical physical game against the Bulldogs.
Heitz, a senior, is playing great ball, as this is first year between the posts on varsity, and he’s only allowed nine goals in 11 games, Byrd noted.
Byrd said the tide has turned against the Bulldogs. In the last four years, the Cats have won the conference three times.
To win it in Whitefish was all the sweeter this season.
They now face Lone Peak, the second seed in the east in the first round of the playoffs. By virtue of winning the conference, they have home field advantage throughout.
Lone Peak is second in the east, but beat perennial powerhouse Billings Central earlier this season. The two teams split their matchups this year, but Lone Peak also tied Bigfork, and had another loss to Park County.
The boys play at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, provided the girls game doesn’t go long.
“This will be the best team we’ve faced so far this year,” Byrd said. “Our focus is on us right now.”