A Soccer: Wildkats win OT thriller with BC Rams

COLUMBIA FALLS — Onnikka Lawrence and Tatiana Raymond scored in extra time as Columbia Falls rallied after trailing twice to down Billings Central 5-4 in the State A girls soccer quarterfinals at Flip Darling Memorial Field Saturday.

“Just a gritty win by all of our players. They battled so incredibly hard and we got outstanding performance all over the field,” Wildkats coach Thomas Clark said. “To go down with 3 minutes left in overtime and come back and win, it was just one of the most incredible games I’ve ever been a part of. 

“Tatiana Raymond finished that last goal with so much composure, every single player stepped up.” 

Bella Mann had a first-half brace to help the Wildkats take a 2-1 lead at the half. 

Amay Lorash finished off a hat trick in the second half to put Billings Central ahead 3-2 in the 53rd minute. 

Riley Byrd saved the day in regulation, tying the game off an assist from Taylor Rodgers with 11 minutes left. 

In extra time, Emerson Dull put the Rams ahead 4-3 in the 98th minute. 

Lawrence quickly answered a minute later to tie the game, then in the same minute Raymond put Columbia Falls ahead for good. 

Elaina Dorr had nine saves for the Wildkats, who advance to next week’s semifinals against Lone Peak. The Big Horns defeated Hamilton 1-0. 

Lorelai Hutzenbiler had 12 saves for Billings Central. 

B. Central    1    2    1    -    4 

C-Falls    2    1    2    -    5 

CF — Bella Mann (Riley Byrd), 7:00 

BC — Amaya Lorash, 13:00 

CF — Mann (Taylor Rodgers), 36:00 

BC — Lorash (Emerson Dull), 41:00 

BC — Lorash, 53:00 

CF — Byrd (Rodgers), 69:00 

BC — Dull, 98:00 

CF — Onnikka Lawrence (Mann), 99:00 

CF — Tatiana Raymond, 99:00 

Shots — Billings Central 9, Columbia Falls 17. Saves — Billings Central 12 (Lorelai Hutzenbiler), Columbia Falls 9 (Elaina Dorr). Corner kicks — Billings Central 2, Columbia Falls 4. Fouls — Billings Central 10, Columbia Falls 11. 

Bigfork 3, Stevensville 0 

BIGFORK —Paeten Gunlock scored and had an assist as Bigfork raced past Stevensville in a quarterfinal match. 

Gunlock’s opener helped the Valkyries to a 1-0 lead at the half. 

She assisted on Brynn Bagley’s goal in the second half, and Sofie Albiero sealed the victory late in the match. 

Bigfork advances to play Livingston in the semifinal round next week. 

A complete summary was unavailable.

State A Girls Playoffs

First round 

Tuesday, Oct. 14 

Bigfork 2, Whitefish 1 

Quarterfinals 

Saturday, Oct. 18 

Columbia Falls 5, Billings Central 4 OT 

Lone Peak 1, Hamilton 0 

Livingston 9, Missoula Loyola 1 

Bigfork 3, Stevensville 0 

Semifinals 

Saturday Oct. 25 

Lone Peak (7-3-3) at Columbia Falls (11-0-2), TBA 

Bigfork (10-3-1) at Livingston (10-1-2), TBA