Cats go 0-2 on long road trip

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team went 0-2 on its eastern road trip last week. The Wildcats lost to Belgrade 1-0 on Sept. 5 and to Park County High School in Livingston the next day 3-1.

Wildcat keeper Brandon Karberg had 19 saves in the opener against Belgrade. The Panthers scored 15 minutes into the first half and then held on for the win. The Cats had just three shots on goal.

Coach Peter Browne said the Cats started five players with no varsity experience against Belgrade and they also tried a new formation.

“Things didn’t work out too well,” he said.

A line score was unavailable for the Livingston game, but the Cats tied it up in the second half on a penalty kick to make it 1-1, against the defending state champion Rangers. Browne said Livingston then took the lead in the 79th minute and for some reason, the referee added 12 minutes to the game. The Rangers then added another goal to seal the win.

But the Cats were much improved, Browne said.

“We played with them head to head,” he said.

The team will look to regroup this week as it hosts Billings Central on Friday at 6 p.m. and Laurel at noon on Saturday.