Wildcats shut out by Loggers, 2-0

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

A solid effort was not reflected on the scoreboard Friday as Columbia Falls was shut out by Libby 2-0 in the Wildcats' Northern A Conference soccer opener at Flip Darling Memorial Field.

Libby booted the ball long early in the game, testing the Wildcat defenders. Just seven minutes into the match, the Loggers completed an attack as Scott Harlow scored on a header. CFHS goalkeeper George Kimerly had no chance for the save. Five minutes later, Kimerly leaped for a fingertip save, then stopped two more Libby shots.

Soon the Cats offense got untracked, but could not get a shot past Libby keeper Lewis Brossman. He deflected a shot by Chase Jackson just over the bar in the 30th minute, then Brossman came up with a save on a corner kick. The Cats had their opportunities in the first half, but trailed 1-0 at intermission.

Brossman came out for a save on a Jackson breakaway in the early minutes of the second half. Then the keeper blocked a point-blank shot by Edgar Salcido.

The Loggers got insurance, scoring on an "own goal" with six minutes remaining in the match. The Cats defense was unable to clear the ball in front of the net. With Kimerly caught unaware, a ball kicked by a CFHS defender rolled past him and into the goal.

"I thought it was pretty unfortunate. It was our first conference game," Cats coach Peter Browne said. "I thought we played pretty well. I thought we were the better team. Give them (the Loggers) credit. They scored a couple goals.

"We need to score goals. We had our opportunities but we didn't follow up," the coach added.

The Cats outshot the Loggers, 14-11. Kimerly had eight saves, and Brossman had nine.

CFHS hosts rival Whitefish at 5:30 p.m. today (Thursday) in another league match.

"That will be a big game. They've got a great team again," Browne said of the Bulldogs. "We have to get some goals on the transition game."

Kats blanked by Libby

Anna Valentine recorded a hat trick, leading Libby to a 4-0 win over Columbia Falls in girls soccer Friday in the Wildkats' Northern A Conference opener.

The Kats thwarted a strong Libby attack early, as freshman goalkeeper Niesha Thompson was tested often. In the 27th minute, the Loggers got on the board on a Valentine shot. Seven minutes later, Valentine scored again to make it 2-0.

CFHS showed more offense in the second half, but was unable to score. In the 16th minute, Jenny Johnson scored for the Loggers from the mouth of the goal. Thompson made a nice save with five minutes left in the match, but Valentine notched her third goal two minutes later.

According to CFHS coach Greg Trenerry, the Loggers were consistently beating the Kats to the ball.

"That was our biggest problem. They won almost every ball," Trenerry said. "were giving them too many opportunities."

Libby outshot the Kats, 20-9. Thompson had 12 saves, and Christina Shilling had seven for the Loggers.

The Kats host Whitefish at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.