Kats blanked 1-0; WF game key to playoff berth

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities were costly to the Columbia Falls girls in a Northern A Conference soccer match Tuesday in wind-blown Polson. The Pirates scored midway through the first half and held on for a 1-0 win — dashing the Wildkats' state playoff hopes.

The Kats — 2-4-1 in league play — control their own postseason destiny. A win over Whitefish today (Thursday) at the Smith Field complex and CFHS is in the playoffs. Match time is 6 p.m.

Playing against a strong wind in the first half, the Kats had a number of scoring chances.

"We did have opportunities in the first half and didn't finish," coach Greg Trenerry said. "We were giving up the ball. To give them (Polson) credit, they played real hard."

The only goal was scored by Heather Howell in the 24th minute.

CFHS played without forward McKenzie Kiser, who sat out with a knee injury suffered in select team tryouts Sunday. She might be able to play against Whitefish. Despite her absence, the Kats outshot Polson, 17-7.

In Polson last Saturday, the Kats were edged by Lakeland, Idaho, 3-2, despite taking a two-goal lead.

"We played all right. We had a couple of counter attacks on them," Trenerry said.

Kiser and McKenzie Reeve scored the Kat goals in the eighth and 14th minutes. Lakeland scored on an own goal before halftime, then found the net twice in the second half — the game-winner on a header off a direct kick.

"We were giving up balls in the midfield. ," Trenerry said.

Niesha Thompson had 14 saves in goal for the Kats.

Jackson leads Cats past Polson

By JOE SOVA

Hungry Horse News

Sparked by a hat trick from senior forward Chase Jackson, Columbia Falls kept its state playoff hopes alive with a 4-1 Northern A Conference victory over Polson on a very windy day in Polson.

Now 2-5 in league play, the Wildcats need either a draw or win in Thursday's 4 p.m. game at Whitefish to have a chance for the playoffs. Help would also be needed in other matches this week.

Playing into the teeth of a 45-mph wind in the first half, the Cats gave up a goal in the 16th minute. Jackson scored the first of his three goals four minutes later and it was tied 1-1 at halftime.

CFHS coach Peter Browne said it was "virtually impossible" for keeper George Kimerly to punt the ball out of the goal mouth, but the Cat defenders played well in preventing more than one goal.

"George did a great job. He had a couple of key saves," Browne said.

Offensively, it was very difficult to advance the ball in the first half due to the wind.

An own goal gave the Cats the lead 10 minutes into the second half, then Jackson took over. He scored in the 61st and 72nd minutes for a three-goal CFHS cushion.

"Chase has come through in the clutch for us," Browne said. "He's finishing well. He's surrounded by unselfish players who are willing to give up the ball."

Jackson now has 14 goals on the season.

"We just dominated the game," Browne said of the second half. "We spread it out a little bit."

Last Saturday in Polson, Jackson scored four goals to lead the Cats to a 4-1 win over Lakeland, Idaho.

"We controlled the pace of the game," Browne said. "We mixed it up a lot. We had a good game in the middle of the field. The forwards were moving the ball well. They put a full game together."

Browne gave credit to Cat seniors Jackson, Kimerly, Travis Pete, Grant Getts and Michael Hensley for their leadership.

"They just played with a lot of intensity and the rest of the crew kind of followed along," the coach said.