Boys soccer battles back to tie Bulldogs

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team split last week, dropping Browning 10-0 on the road Oct. 1 and then coming back to tie rival Whitefish at home Saturday, 2-2.

Against Browning, a host of players scored as the Cats mixed up their rotation. Keeper Talon Bates got his first goal as Eli Crockett played keep and Colt Casazza had two goals in three minutes to lead the Cats.

The bigger game was the rivalry match against Whitefish. The Bulldogs scored two goals in the first 7 minutes and coach O’Brien Byrd was worried it would be a blowout.

But the young team held on in the first half and then played with greater intensity and physicality in the second half.

Brady Bell found the net in the 59th and 66th minutes to tie the game and they missed a wide open header in the closing minutes that would have won it, Byrd noted.

“Big shout out to Brady Bell,” Byrd said of his senior. He noted the three seniors, Logan Luggerio and Eli Crockett really stepped up in the second half.

Ruggerio and Crockett’s play on defense helped preserve the second-half shutout.

The Cats traveled to Thompson Falls/Plains to end the regular season Tuesday and won, 6-2 over the Class B school. They had to forfeit the last game of the season against Libby because the Montana High School Association determined the exhibition jv/game against Sandpoint, Idaho was a varsity game which put them over the limit for the season.

“The contest was understood to be a JV contest; however, under MHSA rules, it counted as a varsity contest. As a result, our program exceeded the allowable number of varsity contests by one,” activities director Madi Barth said in a statement. “Upon discovering the issue, we reviewed the circumstances and worked with MHSA to determine the appropriate course of action. In accordance with MHSA regulations, our final regular-season contest must be forfeited.

“We recognize that this is disappointing news, particularly for our student-athletes, coaches, families, and community who have invested so much time and effort into this season. Our athletes have worked hard, represented Columbia Falls with pride, and should be proud of what they have accomplished throughout the season. This situation does not diminish their effort or the work they have put in.”

The girls also had to forfeit their Libby game as well. 

The end result is the girls take second in the conference and will play the top seed in the south on the road; while the boys will travel to play Billings Central in the East in the playoffs.

The Libby game was supposed to be senior night, so in its stead, the teams will have a free tailgate party at the Flip Darling Fields at 5:30 p.m. Thursday with a senior send off practice at 6 p.m. followed by senior recognition at 7 p.m. for the boys and 7:30 p.m. for the girls.

The playoffs start the weekend of Oct. 17.