Girls win first conference title in 5 years

The Columbia Falls girls played Whitefish to a tie in soccer Oct. 6, but it gave the Wildkats their first conference crown in five years.

The Kats won the Northern A crown with the tie, as they beat the Lady Bulldogs 4-3 earlier this season. The Kats are now 10-1-1. They face Loyola in the first round of the playoffs this Saturday at home. Game time is 11 a.m.

Thursday's game played out much like the two teams' previous meeting this season, with Whitefish taking an early lead only to see the Kats battle back.

Whitefish struck first in the match up when Lady Bulldog Megan Danczyk knocked in a cross shot at the 21-minute mark. Meanwhile, the Kats played a tentative first half - the only good shot they saw was a 25-yarder from Cedar Jordt that hit the crossbar.

Whitefish held a 1-0 advantage at the half.

"I told them they were playing careful and to quit it," Kats coach Greg Trenerry said.

In the second half, McKenzie Kiser broke the scoring drought at the 52-minute mark to tie the game.

But then Kat keeper Kira Kamrud was called on a foul inside the box. Lady Bulldog Samantha Dittman knocked in the penalty kick to give Whitefish the advantage at the 59-minute mark.

The Kats then poured it on, and Danielle Delventhal tied it at 69 minutes on a feed from Kiser. In the closing minutes, Columbia Falls peppered Whitefish keeper Piper Greenwood with a barrage of shots, but Greenwood turned them all away.

Delventhal ended the regular season with 25 goals. Kiser had 22.

"The second half we had a lot of good looks at the goal, and I thought our defense played a strong game," assistant coach Nicolette Bales said. "Our midfield did a good job of winning balls. Their goal was to win conference and they did it."

Whitefish 1 1 - 2

Columbia Falls 0 2 - 2

Whitefish - Megan Danczyk (Natalie Gayner), 19:00; Samantha Dittman (PK), 59:00 Columbia Falls - McKenzie Kiser (Cortney White), 52:00; Danielle Delventhal (Kiser), 69:00; Shots - Whitefish 5, Columbia Falls 20; Corner kicks - Whitefish 1, Columbia Falls 3; Goalie saves - Whitefish 10 (Piper Greenwood), Columbia Falls 3 (Kira Kamrud); Fouls - Whitefish 3, Columbia Falls 8; Cards - none