Cats head into season with new attitude

New coach. New attitude. That might best describe the Columbia Falls boys soccer team as it heads into the 2015 season. The team has been meeting twice a week through the summer, both in the classroom and on the field in preparation of a new season under coach O'Brien Byrd.

"We're a very young team," Byrd admits. They have just one senior - Daniel Skinner.

But Byrd said the expectations are no less.

"They have a great work ethic and energy and their enthusiasm is impeccable," Byrd said.

But their technique still needs work, something Byrd said the coaching staff will continue to work on throughout the season.

Byrd said the team, which has eight returning players, has a simple goal.

"We're going to make it to the state playoffs and play in the best three games of our lives," he said.

The squad has no where to go but up. It's been a long time since the Wildcats have seen a winning season, nevermind the playoffs.

"It's an exciting new chapter," in Columbia Falls soccer, Byrd predicted.

But the state final the first year? Perhaps.

"Somehow we're in that state final," Byrd said. "We might be that Cinderella team."

Byrd grew up playing for the Cats in high school but made his coaching mark in Whitefish. Last year, he was named National Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Byrd started coaching the Bulldogs in 2003 and led them to state titles in 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2012. The Bulldogs had back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2006 and 2007 and at one point had a 42-game winning streak. Twenty-one of his players went on to play soccer in college. He took the Columbia Falls job after longtime coach Peter Browne resigned last year.

Byrd said the team to beat in conference this season is Polson. For the first time since 1999 they have enough players to have a junior varsity team. There were no cuts from the squad of 23. Byrd is assisted by Patrick Jones, Sebastian Sheldon, Jake Hall and Chris Nagel. Nagel was a standout player for the Cats when he played about 12 years ago.

Hall will coach the junior varsity squad. The team opens its season Friday at home against Livingston with a match at 5 p.m.