Cats drop Locomotives 4-2 in soccer opener

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team opened their season with a 4-2 win against the Laurel Locomotives in a non-conference matchup on Friday, Aug. 29 at Flip-Darling Memorial Field. Brady Bell, Jackson Scholz, Jack Austin and Chance Pfeifle each had a goal in the match.

“We were out a couple of players due to injury and every player on the roster that was available to play, did. Goalkeeper Brady Heitz had the game of his life, stopping four or five opportunities in the first half that would have put us behind in the game. Senior midfielder Jackson Scholz, was an absolute warrior, covering every blade of grass on the field. He carried a lot of weight on his shoulders as his teammate and co-captain Jack Harris was unable to play.  The performance was gritty, and we learned a whole lot about how we are going play this year. Nine new faces in the starting eleven, it was quite astonishing how they played with such maturity,” said coach O’Brien Byrd.

Bell (assist Whit Albrecht) got the Cats rolling at the 9-minute mark to put the Cats on the board. The Cats would go on to score in the first half with a solo shot by Scholz. They would come out hot right out of the gate in the second half and nail two goals within six minutes of each other one by Austin (assist Bello) and a solo shot from Pfeifle. Goalie Heitz had 11 saves on the game. The Cats outshot the Locomotives 17-13; each had eight fouls apiece.

The Cats will take on their conference rival the Whitefish Bulldogs Thursday, home starting at 7 p.m.

“The boys will need to be focused on how we play, not really putting a lot of focus on the opponent.  If we can stick to our game model, it’ll be a very competitive game!” Byrd said.