Vikings blank Polson, Vals lose close ones
By FAITH MOLDAN
Bigfork Eagle
The Bigfork High School boys' varsity soccer team played in two shutouts last week, and was on the winning side of one of those.
As the end of the season draws closer and the fight for state tournament berths grows more intense, the Bigfork Vikes couldn't find the back of the net against the Libby Loggers Sept. 20. The Vikes fell at home to the Loggers 0-3. Bigfork held the Polson Pirates scoreless Saturday on the road in its 2-0 victory.
Evan May began the Loggers' scoring. His goal in the seventh minute was assisted by Kyle Berke. Trailing 0-1, the Vikes kept Libby from scoring for 60 minutes before Gregg Lundin and Cree Maloney connected for another Logger goal. The Loggers' final goal came in the 74th minute by Riley Hoyer. He was assisted by May.
Bigfork was out-shot by the Loggers 7-15. The Vikes' goalkeeper, Levi Dockstader, did well and tallied a total of nine saves to keep the final score at 0-3.
Zac Hansen replaced Dockstader in the box in the Vikes' match against Polson. He had four saves in the 2-0 Bigfork win.
Bigfork increased it's shots on goal against the Pirates, out-shooting them 18-8. Roland Benedict and Derek Minemeyer scored Bigfork's goals. Benedict's, which was unassisted, came in the 25th minute and Minemeyer scored in the second half in the 65th minute. Benedict assisted him on the goal.
Bigfork's JV team finished the week with a 1-1 tie. The JV match against Polson started the week on Sept. 17 in Bigfork.
Lael Richmond scored the Vikes' goal with a shot from the left in the 10th minute. Trevor Moll scored for the Pirates in the 17th minute.
"It was a good experience for our younger players," Bigfork assistant coach Mike Daniels said of the JV match.
Hansen recorded two saves for the Vikes, who took 15 shots on goal. Polson took 11 and tallied four saves.
Bigfork's JV team is now 1-0-1.
The Vikes make themselves at home this week, hosting both the Whitefish Bulldogs and Polson Pirates. The Whitefish match Sept. 27 is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., as is the Polson match Oct. 2.
Libby 1 2 - 3
Bigfork 0 0 - 0
L - Evan May (Kyle Berke), 7:00
L - Gregg Lundin (Cree Maloney), 67:00
L - Riley Hoyer (May), 74:00
Shots on goal - Libby 15, Bigfork 7. Corner kicks - Libby 10, Bigfork 6. Saves - Libby 0, Bigfork 9 (Levi Dockstader). Total fouls - Libby 16, Bigfork 9. Yellow cards - Bigfork 1. Red cards - none.
Bigfork 1 1 — 2
Polson 0 0 — 0
BIGFORK — Roland Benedict, 26:00; Derek Minemyer (Benedict), 65:00
The Bigfork Valkyrie soccer team is one to watch.
And beware of if you're a Northern A soccer opponent.
"We're in the mix," Bigfork coach Steve Koch said. "We just need to come away with the win."
The Vals started their week with a JV win over Polson 8-1. Those winning ways almost carried through to the varsity matches.
Quinci Paine, Caitlinn Charlebois and McKenzie Reeve all scored for the Vals in a back and forth game with the Libby Lady Loggers Sept. 20. Bigfork tied the game at three apiece late in the second half and the Loggers scored the winning goal with just over a minute remaining for the 3-4 win.
Reeve also scored two days later as the Vals took on the Polson Lady Pirates. Bigfork out-shot the Pirates 12-5 in their 1-2 loss.
"We physically, technically and tactically match up with any team," Koch said.
The Vals' next match is against Whitefish today, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m.