Vikes start season with shutout win

The Vikings started off their season on the right foot, beating Valley rivals Columbia Falls 3-0 in their season opener at home Saturday.

Senior Alec MacCallum had a hat trick that started with a goal in the 27th minute. Junior Fabian Zavala shot the ball from the right corner where MacCallum gathered it and took it to his left to put it past Wildcat goalie Jake Calderwood.

"It was really calm," said Bigfork High School Head Boys Soccer Coach Keith Koslosky. "He just put it in."

MacCallum's next goal was off of a free kick at the 62:00 mark. He put it through the left side of the Cats wall from about 30 yards out and landing it near the post on the ground and safely inside the goal.

"I couldn't believe he got that one in," Koslosky said.

With 10 minutes left in the game MacCallum trapped the ball in midfield off of a kick from Calderwood and then in a few short dribbles returned it right back to where it came from and into the goal.

"It's nice," MacCallum said of his hat trick. "But it feels a lot better to play with a team that you feel comfortable with than it does to have the goals."

The Vikings new goalkeeper Nate Roberson, a junior, was responsible for the shut out with four saves.

"He had a shutout his first time in the goal and that's pretty impressive," Koslosky said.

Bigfork controlled the ball for much of the game and made the win a team effort.

"We had solid play by the three seniors Lael Richmond, Skyler Doak, and Keenan Evans in the back along with freshman Matt Killian," Koslosky said. "Austin Jordt, playing in his first match gave us some great minutes, as did Dylan Reichenbach, who is playing for his first year, and sophomore Shane Parks, who played for us last year. Freshmen Anthony Fopp and Austin Gordon did some great things for us as well. We controlled the midfield with seniors Alec MacCallum and Luke Scrase, junior Fabian Zavala and sophomore Dillon Charlebois. John Lyon put pressure up top and gave us the momentum we needed."

Columbia Falls has a young team this year with just one returning senior.

"Regardless of the situation, coach Browne always brings his team ready to play," Koslosky said of Columbia Falls' Head Coach Pete Browne. "They were competitive and they played us tough."

Bigfork took 15 shots on Columbia Falls' goal and Calderwood had nine saves.

The Vikings hosted Stillwater Christian on Tuesday, the results of which will be in next week's Eagle. They will travel to Laurel and Billings Central this Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Columbia Falls 0 0 - 0

Bigfork 1 2 - 3

Bigfork - Alec MacCallum (Fabian Zavala), 27:00; MacCallum, 62:00; MacCallum, 80:00

Shots on goal - Columbia Falls, 4; Bigfork 15

Goalie saves - Columbia Falls 9 (Jake Calderwood), Bigfork 4 (Nate Roberson)

Corner kicks - Columbia Falls 2, Bigfork 5

Fouls - Columbia Falls 11, Bigfork 10

Cards - Columbia Falls, one yellow