SPORTS

CMR girls get even with Bison

Scott Mansch
smansch@greatfallstribune.com

In six matches prior to Tuesday, the C.M. Russell High soccer team had exactly two goals.

The Rustlers doubled that total Tuesday and it led to a 4-1 triumph over Great Falls High at Argo Field, the new pitch at the University of Great Falls.

“I knew once we scored a goal that they might come in bunches,” said CMR coach Willie Pyette. “We’ve had a hard time finishing this year.”

The Rustlers, avenging a 2-0 loss to Great Falls High a few weeks ago, won their first match of the year and improved to 1-4-2 before a crowd of several hundred on a warm, windless afternoon. The Bison fell to 2-5.

Sophomore forward Brynn Klinefelter scored twice, and junior midfielders Kelsey Hogan and Addison Gardner found the net once apiece as the Rustlers prevailed. All the scoring came in the second half. Hogan added an assist as Russell got even in the crosstown series this fall.

The difference?

“I think it was mainly out attitude coming in,” Hogan said. “We felt confident. We’d come off two well-played games against (Billings) West and Senior last weekend, so I think we were just more confident and our attitude was very good. We have improved a lot.”

CMR boys' soccer sweeps Bison in crosstown series

Hogan’s first goal came from the left corner near the Bison goal. Her corner kick was controlled by Klinefelter, who passed it right back. Hogan hooked in a beauty as the Rustlers got on the board in the 48th minute.

The right-footed Klinefelter added two goals, the first a left-footed short drive off an assist from Emily Funseth in the 66th minute.

Great Falls High’s Quinn Mora answered almost immediately, scoring in the 67th minute to give Bison fans some hope.

But then Klinefelter tallied an unassisted goal in the 75th minute, floating a high boot just over the reach of leaping Bison goalkeeper Alexis Leitheiser. Gardner then scored after a Hogan assist in the 78th minute as the Rustlers won going away.

“We pushed the line,” Klinefelter said. “Kelsey had some great passes and we were able to get behind (the Bison defense) a few times.”

The warm conditions were tough for both teams, said Bison coach Dugan Coburn.

“We had a couple of girls overheat in the first half and that kind of hurt us,” Coburn said. “Marissa Meyer played her heart out. She moved up from the defensive line to the midfield and tried to take over the middle of the field for us.”

Goalkeeper Alexis Leitheiser was solid in the first half.

“Lexi did a fantastic job and got a lot of nice stops for us in that first half,” Coburn said.

The goal by Mora came quickly and provided evidence of the Bison offensive ability.

“Quinn scoring that just made us feel like we were going to get right back into it,” Coburn said.

Coburn, Jim Devlin and Bill Polk took over the Great Falls High program on Monday when it was announced that head coach TJ IronBear was leaving his post for health and family reasons. So it’s been an emotional week for the Bison.

“Extremely, yes,” Mora said. “We really have to put the past behind us. It was a major setback and we have to move forward.”

Mora said the Rustlers were relentless this day.

“They outhustled us, for sure,” Mora said. “We were getting really tired at the end and they never let up. Their intensity was great.”

The Bison victory earlier this year was their first crosstown triumph since 2003. The Rustlers hope their newfound offensive prowess has helped restore the roar to their attack.

“We’ve been playing well, but soccer can be a frustrating game when you can’t finish,” Pyette said. “So onward to Butte and hopefully we’ll score some goals there, too.”

The CMR girls travel to Butte on Thursday, while Great Falls High plays host to the Bulldogs Saturday morning at 11 at Siebel Soccer Park.

CMR …0 4 – 4

Great Falls …0 1 – 1

First half – no scoring

Second half – 1, CMR, Kelsey Hogan (Brynn Klinefelter), 48th minute; 2, CMR, Brynn Flinefelter (Emily Funseth), 66th minute; 3, Great Falls High, Quinn Mora, 67th minute; 4, CMR, Brynn Klinefelter, unassisted, 75th minute; 5, CMR, Addison Gardner (Kelsey Hogan), 78th minute

Goalkeepers: CMR, Cece Grasseschi; Great Falls High, Alexis Leitheiser