Cats settle for split in soccer

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team split the bill last week at home.

They beat Bigfork Sept. 15, 3-1, but Libby dispatched the Cats 4-1 Saturday.

Against Bigfork, Logan Stephens scored the first goal for the Wildcats in the first half to tie the game up and then Daniel Skinner scored on a penalty kick to put the Cats up in the second half.

Paxton Fisher added a goal from a good 35 yards out to seal the deal.

The Cats outshot Bigfork, 20-9.

But Libby came out strong against the Cats and put up three goals in the first half as the Columbia Falls defense struggled.

The Cats played better in the second half as Daniel Skinner scored at the 55-minute mark. The boys had quite a few chances to cut into Libby’s lead, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Coach O’Brien Byrd said the Bigfork match was a complete game by the Cats, but Libby, not so much.

“We’ll learn from it,” he said.

The Cats don’t have much time to dwell on the Libby game, they faced Polson Tuesday away in another key conference match and then play Whitefish at home Saturday at 2 p.m.