Vikings strive for playoff spot as season winds down

Bigfork soccer is racing through their last conference games, hoping to end up in the playoffs.

The Vikings came out of last week with two wins and a tie. They beat Columia Falls 4-2, and Libby 1-0, but tied Polson 0-0.

Bigfork’s and Polson’s defenses played strong on Saturday at Carlyle Johnson field, and neither team even saw many scoring opportunities. Bigfork had six shots on goal to Polson’s three.

“Our defense was solid,” head coach Bill Buxton said. “Overall we played a great game. But to credit Polson they played a heck of a game.”

Bigfork faced Whitefish at home on Tuesday and will travel to Libby Thursday to finish out their regular season. As of now, their playoff fate is up to how the other teams in the conference fare as the regular season winds down.

Right now Bigfork trails Whitefish in the Northwest conference standings by one point. Whitefish is 6-2-2. Bigfork 5-3-2.

“I think Whitefish is beatable, and the boys are hungry,” Buxton said.

Polson 0, Bigfork 0

Polson 0 0 — 0

Bigfork 0 0 — 0

Shots on goal — Polson 3, Bigfork 6. Saves — Polson 3, Bigfork 3 (Ben Russell). Corner kicks — Polson 4, Bigfork 1. Fouls — Polson 5, Bigfork 5. Cards — none.

Bigfork     3     1     —     4

Columbia Falls     1     1     —     2

BIGFORK — Carson Cantrell, 5:00; Kyle Thomson, 12:00; Shane Rieke, 21:00; Tyler Zavala 62:00

COLUMBIA FALLS — Keenan Jessat, 20:00; Alex Garraate, 50:00

Shots on goal — Bigfork 13, Columbia Falls 7; Goalie saves — Bigfork 2 (Kyle Cumming), Columbia Falls 10 (Brandon Karberg); Corner kicks — Bigfork 2, Columbia Falls 2; Fouls — Bigfork 7, Columbia Falls 11;  Cards — Bigfork 1 yellow, Columbia Falls 1 yellow.

Bigfork 1, Libby 0

Libby    0    0    —    0

Bigfork    0    1    —    1

B - Kyle Thomson (Tyler Zavala) 43’

Shots on goal — L 5, B 7. Saves — L 2 (Alexander Petersen), B 5 (Ben Russell). Corner kicks — L 2, B 2. Fouls — L 4, B 2. Cards — none.