Clark Fork soccer teams secure home victories

The two Clark Fork Soccer Alliance teams both claimed victories last week in games against Browning boys and girls teams at the Amundson Sports Complex.

Josh Allday's U18 boys defeated the Browning Indians 7-0. Both Sanders County teams go by Clark Fork Soccer Alliance and have players from around the county. The boys range from age 14 to 18 and his players are from Plains and Thompson Falls. Lawyer's players range from 12 to 18 and are from Plains, Thompson Falls and St. Regis.

Lawyer's team record was six wins and one loss at the start of last Tuesday's game against the Lady Indians. Greg Klauk, coach for the Indians, said his junior varsity team is Browning's first soccer team. The Indians and Lady Indians have lost all three games they've played.

With the win last week, Allday's boys continued to be undefeated. Jake Lulack of the Clark Fork Soccer Alliance drew first blood, followed by a goal by Theo Nygaard, a Thompson Falls player. Tristan Allen, one of the team's younger players from Plains, scored the final goal of the game to shut out the Indians.

Lawyer's girls played with tenacity in order to regain their confidence after losing 4-2 to Big Fork the previous day. Tuesday's victory gave the girls seven wins and just one loss.

"I was pleased with their performance last night. Coming off their first regular season loss in two years the night before I think the girls were hungry to show their strength and skill," said Lawyer, who has coached soccer more than a dozen years. "I thought we stayed connected very well, with pretty good positioning. The players were able to find pockets of space and open the field well and we really just cut right through Browning," added Lawyer, whose daughter, Ava, plays for Clark Fork Soccer Alliance and has been a soccer player for some 12 years.

The girls Clark Fork Soccer Alliance scored right away, but the point was not counted because of an offsides penalty. However, it didn't take long and Maddie Carter shot one by the Browning keeper, followed soon by a score from Solveig Nygaard for a 2-0 lead. Candice Manuel slipped one in and the Plains girls had a 3-0 lead at halftime. The girls played 30-minute halves while the boys did 40 minutes for each half.

Madison Tobias scored immediately in the second half, followed by Haylee Nelson, and Ava Lawyer to bring the score to 6-0. Lady Indian Yazmine Tatsey McKay helped Clark Fork Soccer Alliance by accidentally putting the ball in the wrong goal. Grace Noonan of Clark Fork Soccer Alliance put the final point in to shut the Lady Indians out.

Lawyer said his girls were very aggressive. "We are quick and can attack from deep, wide, and central," said Lawyer. The team has chalked up 36 goals, so far, this season. "Defensively we are stacked. We have a very experienced defensive line that has played together for three seasons. Maddie Carter and Haylee Nelson anchor the defense and they've only allowed nine goals in six games," said Lawyer. "Top to bottom these girls can play – and they are fun to watch. They communicate well, they attack aggressively, and they are relentless. It's exciting to see such intelligent play from our girls."