Boys soccer reloads for another season

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team has a solid core of five returning players and one of the best freshmen classes in years as it heads into the 2026 season.

Coach O’Brien Byrd, in his 24th year as a head coach said the team welcomes back seniors Brady Bell, Eli Crockett and Logan Ruggerio and returning standouts White Albrecht and keeper Talon Bates.

He said he’s also excited about the frosh class, referring to it as a “golden generation” of 12 talented soccer players who have been on the pitch since they were 5 years old. They’ve come up through the ranks of the Flathead Rapids youth program and he said some of them could even fill starting roles this season.

“A couple have a chance to start,” Byrd said.

The team retains all of its coaching staff, with longtime assistant Cory Pete coaching the junior varsity along with alumni Caleb Baumann, who is also now a teacher at Columbia Falls High School. Assistant Sage Wanner is also a teacher this year.

One cool note about the JV schedule is they play Missoula Hellgate. Those who remember the early years of soccer will recall the Wildcats squaring off regularly against AA opponents.

The Cats graduated nine seniors from a squad that lost in the semis last season to Polson in a classic game that ended in penalty kicks. The Pirates went on to be state champs, dropping Whitefish in the final, 4-0.

The team to beat this season in the West is Whitefish, but Byrd also expects Bigfork to be tough. Billings Central is always tough in the East.

The Wildcats open the season against Hamilton on the road Aug. 28 and then play Stevensville the following day.

They’ll  get a chance to see Billings Central when they travel to Billings for a two-game stint against Park County High and Central Sept. 4-5 in Billings.

Their first home game is Sept. 8 against Browning.