Injury-cursed Bulldogs play for Class A championship
Whitefish coach Lini Reading is hoping the band-aids stay on for one more match.
The banged-up Bulldogs entertain Belgrade today at noon in the girls Class A state soccer final at Smith Fields.
Whitefish enters the match 10-3-1; Belgrade is 7-2-2.
It seems like weve had the injury curse this season, said Reading.
We come in pretty fit, warm up well, stretch well.
But the injuries have still piled up.
Out for todays match is Jen Joern. The center-mid is sidelined with torn ligaments in her ankle.
Hannah Long, midfield, is a question mark with a knee injury.
Carly Lengstorf, forward, is running on two sore ankles.
She will try (and play), said Reading.
Well keep our fingers crossed she makes it through a good portion of the game.
If that isnt enough, Alissa LaChance, ankle and leg injury, will play but will be limited. And Carmel Johnston, pull muscle, is also on the mend and is hobbling around, but will go according to Reading.
Because of the injuries, Whitefish was forced to change its formation for the first time this season in the semifinals last weekend. The Bulldogs responded with a 2-1 win over Corvallis.
These kids adjusted pretty well, said Reading.
It wasnt pretty, but I thought they handled it pretty well out there in a crucial game).
Reading calls Belgrade the fastest team in the state.
They are crafty, quick, good with the ball, she added.
Technically sound.
Reading is hoping a slick field today, because of week long rain, will be an equalizer.
Whitefish and Belgrade squared off early in the season with the two teams battling to a 4-all tie.
Whitefish won a state championship in 2001, lost in the title game in a shootout in 2002 and fell in the semifinals last year.
Boys
Columbia Falls at Billings Central
After back-to-back playoff victories at home, Columbia Falls is on the road to Billings. The Wildcats, 10-2-2, face Billings Central, 11-1-1, at Rocky Mountain College today at 10:30 a.m.
This marks the second-straight title appearance for Columbia Falls.
We stayed pretty healthy this week, said Columbia Falls coach Peter Browne.
Getting back on the mend.
Back in the lineup will be junior forward Dustin Gibson. Hes been sidelined with a cracked lower tibia.
Hes done it several times, said Browne of Gibsons injury.
He will have surgery after the season.
Cory Pete, who missed the first playoff match, turned in a gutsy effort last weeks 3-0 victory over Hamilton. That was a rematch of the 2004 title game.
Hes gotten healthier all week, said Browne.
I expect him to do some good things on Saturday.
There was some confusion earlier in the week as to where this game was to be played. A Southern Conference team was to be the host school for the 2005 title game, but both Southern playoff teams were eliminated last week.
Since Columbia Falls hosted the title game in 2004, the MHSA gave the title game to Billings.
I was a little upset, said Browne of the confusion.
Im over it now. We just gotta do what we gotta do.
The kids are resilient, he continued. They like being on the road.
Columbia Falls opened the playoffs by dumping Corvallis, 3-0.
We seem pretty confident, said Browne.
We just have to be solid on our key positions. (Lee) Kizer (keeper) will have to have a big game. Well just have to rise to the occasion like we did with Hamilton. I think we will be all right.