Boys lose heartbreaker to Polson in shootout

By NANCY UNDERDAHL

Hungry Horse News

The Columbia Falls boys soccer season came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday in the semifinal matchup at Flip Darling Field against the Polson Pirates, in a game that would see it tied at 1 each in extra time. Despite a determined effort and standout performances from players like keeper Brady Heitz, and forwards Jack Harris, and Jackson Scholz, the Wildcats saw their dreams of playing in the championship against Whitefish slip away in the penalty shootout by a score of 7-6.  

The Pirates struck early at the 9- minute mark when Donovan Beeks broke through the Columbia Falls Wildcats’ defense and fired a shot past the goalkeeper, putting Polson on the board first. The Wildcats answered just as quickly, when Jack Harris, assisted by Jackson Scholz, found the back of the net nine minutes later to level the score at 1-1. 

What followed would be a grueling exchange of both team’s offense and defense throughout regulation and overtime with both teams creating scoring chances but neither able to capitalize. Without either team managing to score to break the tie, the match came down to the penalty kick shootout.  

In regular play, Columbia Falls attempted 12 shots to Polson’s 11.  Brady Heitz ended his high school career with 12 saves and the Cats would have 7 fouls in the contest.

“If you were to ask me at the end of last season what the 2025 fall soccer season would look like, I would’ve definitely said it will be a rebuilding year. With a huge graduating class, we put 11 brand new players in new start positions. Normally that equates to a rebuilding season. However, the more we got practices under our belts at the beginning of the year, the more the coaching staff realized that this team could actually make a run at the season. We were 12-1-0 going into the semifinal game vs. Polson. We won the conference, the toughest in the state. I’m so incredibly proud of our young men and the incredible lengths that they traveled this season,” coach O’Brien Byrd said. “The graduating seniors should hold their heads high, as I know they wanted to be in the state championship game, but I don’t think that they expected to be as successful as they were.”

“Polson did just enough to hold us off until we got to penalty kicks. Anytime you end the season on penalty kicks, there’s always so much luck involved with it. It’s my least favorite way to end a soccer game, but sometimes it just has to happen if the game can’t be decided in regulation. 

“I can’t wait to see where this team will go next season. We are bringing in one of the most talented freshmen classes that we have seen in a long time. The future will continue to be bright!”