Wildcats drop Pirates, 2-0

It was an ugly game, but a win nonetheless.

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team dropped Polson 2-0 in a physical match that featured 34 total fouls — 14 by Polson and 20 by Columbia Falls.

Forward Jackson Barta scored both goals — one at the 14-minute mark on an penalty kick by Bailey Griffith and the second on a feed from wing Casey Burghduff three minutes later.

After that, both teams just sort of started pushing each other around, more than playing soccer.

“It was pretty ugly, but it was three points,” coach Peter Browne said about the team’s place in the standings. “We just kind of lost our composure. That’s one of those things we have to work on.”

Defenseman Austin Kimmet was red carded for fouling a Polson player and has to sit out Tuesday’s game against Bigfork. That game was played after presstime.

The Bigfork match is almost a must-win. The Vikings beat the Cats 3-0 earlier this season.

The boys will face Libby away Friday.

That game, too, is almost a must-win. The Loggers are second in the conference with a 2-1-1 record.

The Wildcats are now 1-1-1 in conference play, while Bigfork is 2-2-1

Polson 0 0 – 0

C. Falls 2 0 – 2

C – Jackson Barta (Bailey Griffith), 14:00

C – Barta (Casey Burghduff), 17:00

Shots – Polson 12, Columbia Falls 15. Saves – Polson 9 (Trevor Basler, Rhett Burland), Columbia Falls 12 (Mason Gedlaman). Corner kicks – Polson 6, Columbia Falls 3. Total fouls – Polson 14, Columbia Falls 20. Yellow cards – Columbia Falls 1. Red cards – Columbia Falls, Austin Kimmet.