The year of the Kats

Laurel may be the Locomotives, but the Columbia Falls girls soccer team came into town like a freight train to take the state title.

Just 50 seconds into the game, Kim Pearce knocked in a shot off a pass from Lisa Carter to score the first goal. And then Carter punched one in about 15 minutes later on an assist from Jessica Boyer.

They drove 16 hours. They had the state title in 16 minutes.

"I think we played with more composure. We played with our hearts," said team co-captain Kim Pearce, who had a hat trick in the win. "That's what led us to victory."

Teammate Lisa Carter wasn't quite so sure.

"I was really surprised (we won). When we were warming up, I thought we were going to lose," Carter said.

The team seemed a little flat to her and the girls didn't seem pumped up.

But then they ran through the banners at the start, and Laurel had a smoke machine and fireworks, and that's when the motivation kicked in, Carter said.

"Wow, this really is the state championship," she said she thought to herself. Carter said the seniors on the team made everyone feel comfortable. She said that was a big part of their success-the girls were friends as well as teammates.

The scoring onslaught continued in the first half. Beth Karper scored at minute 20, frosh Lindsey Henning added a goal on an assist from Pearce at minute 29, and Pearce scored again at the 30th minute and again at the 34th minute.

"This is the best team I've had that played as a team," said coach Greg Trenerry. He said they simply executed the game plan, which was to come out hard and not give up.

The Kats all year have set up a possession offense based on crisp passing and pushing the midfielders to the front fast.

On Friday night, it all came together.

"We're a possession team," Trenerry said. "We just tried to possess more than they did."

And when you do that, the goals are going to come.

Trenerry said his mid-fielders and defense did a great job of setting up the offense. Defenders were Cassie Stoneman, Michelle Valov, Torri Hoye and Ashley Sweeney.

On several occasions, Stoneman stepped up and stopped a Laurel breakaway chance.

The midfielders included Sarah Franck, Alona Raymond, Amber Lampman, Carla Appleton, Beth Karper and Lindsey Henning. Forwards were Ashley Horine, Pearce and Carter.

Carter capped off a great season with 27 goals and 18 assists -the most in school history and nearly the most in class A play in a season.

Elizabeth Pitman, of Whitefish has the all-time class A mark, with 28 goals, but less assists, 13. She did that in 2001.

Carter said she didn't think much about her goal totals until Trenerry brought them up at the end of the year.

"It would have been kind of neat (to break the mark). I didn't think I had that many," she said.

The Kats also had great goal keeping. Combined, Vanessa Almanza and Colyne Hislop had nine shutouts on the season.

Hoye and Appleton were named second team all conference. Almanza and Hislop were named first team all conference, and Pearce, Stoneman and Carter were named all state.

The only snafu in the girls' win was when the bus broke down in Bozeman, and parents had to load them up to get them back home in time to watch the boys' game.

Laurel would come back and score a lone goal in the second half, and the Kats had at least one goal by Raymond called back on on an offsides call.

But by then, it was lights out for Laurel, which was pretty happy just to be there.

Last year, the Locomotives won just one game, and some folks wanted the coach's head.

But the Locomotives came back this year and went 8-5-2. The town came out in full force, with a huge crowd, fireworks and a band.

"I was impressed by the support of their team and support for girls soccer," Trenerry said. "I'd like to congratulate them on their team."

Trenerry also thanked school athletic director John Thompson, and his assistants, Rona DuBay, and daughters Hauna and Nicolette, who also pitched in.

Things look good for the Kats next year as well.

They lose some talented seniors, but they also have 13 returning players, including Carter and Almanza, who are juniors.

Columbia Falls 6, Laurel 1

Columbia Falls (12-2) - Kim Pearce (Lisa Carter) 1st minute; Carter (Jessica Boyer), 16th minute; Beth Karper (unassisted), 20th minute; Lindsey Henning (Pearce), 29th minute; Pearce (Carla Appleton), 30th minute; Pearce (Appleton), 34th minute.

Laurel (8-5-2) - Lindsey McGlothlin (unassisted), 48th minute.

Halftime - Columbia Falls 6, Laurel 0.

Shots - Columbia Falls 17, Laurel 12

Keeper saves - Columbia Falls, Vanessa Almanza 1, Colyne Hislop 6. Laurel, Jamie Rivera .