Carter kicks Kats to perfect start

Hungry Horse News

What would the Columbia Falls Wildkats soccer team do without senior forward Lisa Carter?

Carter, the leading scorer on last year's Class A State Champion team with 27 goals, opened her 2005 campaign with a hat trick against overmatched Livingston, a decisive goal against Belgrade and key play against Bigfork as the Kats went 3-0 in the first week of the season.

Head coach Greg Trenerry praised the play of his senior leader.

"Lisa, she's just the type that goes and goes," he said. "She's a good player, she's working hard and remains unselfish."

The Wildkats, playing stout defense and an attacking offense, shutout Livingston 3-0 and defeated Belgrade 2-1 in the first steps toward defending their state championship.

Against Livingston, Carter was assisted on two goals from junior midfielder Jessica Boyer and had an assist from junior midfielder Sarah Franck.

Senior goalkeeper Vanessa Almanza was solid in goal, as the team registered a shutout in the first game and outshot Livingston 30-3.

Trenerry was pleased with the defensive performance.

"The defense obviously played well," he said. "They can't do any better than that."

Offensively, despite the three goals, Trenerry said that he was hoping for improvement.

"The offense, I thought we played very well," he said. "But they need to finish better."

Several goal-scoring opportunities were missed, something Trenerry said the girls did better against Belgrade.

Almanza, continuing her stellar play in goal, made seven saves against Belgrade, and sophomore midfielder Lindsey Henning scored her first goal of the season.

Trenerry said that Belgrade was surprisingly good and that he expects them to contend this year.

"There, I thought we started a little surprised," he said. "We had to step it up. We definitely used our wings better, there again we need to finish. Give them credit, they're a good team."

The Kats also defeated Bigfork 11-0 on Tuesday night to extend their unbeaten streak to three games.

Wildcats grind out win at Corvallis

By JOHN VAN VLEET

Hungry Horse News

Good teams win games, great teams win the close ones.

While the young Columbia Falls Wildcats football team might not be great just yet, their 13-7 victory at Corvallis Friday night was a learning experience, and a decidedly positive beginning to the season.

Head coach John Thompson was pleased with the play of the defense, praising his team for picking up the new 3-4 scheme so quickly.

"I thought defensively we did a really good job," he said. "First of all because we had a new defensive scheme in. I thought they learned it well and executed it well."

Sophomore Chase Fairbank, making his first start at quarterback, was also solid in the win, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with four minutes left in the fourth quarter of the Class A season opener. Fairbank scampered in from six yards out to put the Wildcats up for good.

Kevin Boyer's extra point was blocked, but it wasn't needed, as the Cats' defense stymied Corvallis, forcing them to turn the ball over on downs to seal the win.

Thompson was encouraged by the victory, saying he hopes it translates into confidence as the season progresses, noting that the team showed great discipline in not committing a single penalty.

"We didn't have any penalties," he said. "That's the first time that's happened in my coaching career."

Defensively, the Wildcats were impressive, giving up only seven points and creating four turnovers. Juniors Steven McNulty and Jared Jimmerson and freshman Josh Wilson each had interceptions, and Thompson said the team played well on the defensive side of the ball.

Two goal line stands in the first half helped prevent Corvallis from reaching the endzone.

Offensively, the Wildcats were led by sophomore Scott Palmer, who scored the first touchdown of the season in the second quarter on a five yard run. Palmer, taking over for departed senior Kyle Rosenbaum at running back, racked up 83 rushing yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.

For all the positives, the Cats struggled in the kicking game and also committed two turnovers, something Thompson said must improve before the home opener against Hamilton this Friday.

"We didn't finish off a couple of drives," he said. "But overall, I'm very pleased."