Cats get key conference win over Bigfork

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team traveled to Bigfork on Sept. 13 for a conference game and came out on top, 3-1.

“This year is basically 11 new players put into arguably new positions.  I would say most coaches talking about a completely new lineup after losing so many to graduation, would admit that it would be a rebuilding year.  We’re now closing in on almost halfway through the season with a 4-1-0 record.  Going into a crucial Bigfork away game, we were carrying a handful of injuries.  

“We had to move some players around yet again.  We pulled one of our most valuable defensive players (Javien Mata) and plugged him in up top as a striker.  He drew a penalty minutes into the match and scored the next two goals for us.  What an exceptional young man that does not wilt under pressure,” coach O’Brien Byrd said.

The Wildcats struck first with a shot from Jackson Scholz (Javien Mata assist) at the 19th minute mark.  Mata would go onto to be a powerhouse with two goals of his own in the contest with assists from both Brady Bell and Whit Albrecht. Bigfork would answer with a goal in the second half, but that’s all they would get.

Columbia Falls had 14 shots and allowed Bigfork 11.  Keeper Brady Heitz had eight saves on the afternoon.  Both teams were fairly close foul wise on the contest with 10 for the Cats and 9 for Vikings.

Last Tuesday at home the Cats dispatched Class B Thompson Falls/Plains, 8-0. Brady Bell led the Cats with a hat trick.

The Cats will have a couple of away conference games this week.  One on Thursday at Browning and the second will be at Libby on Saturday.

“We’re continuing to build this team and become stronger every day, week to week. Our main focus right now is to fine tune and solidify the tactics around this new team / new system,” Byrd said.