Whitefish boys soccer ready to avenge playoff loss

The Daily Inter Lake

The Whitefish High School boys soccer team whipped Corvallis 4-0 in a non-conference match last year before facing the Blue Devils again in the Class A state quarterfinals. The Bulldogs bombarded the Blue Devils with 22 shots in the rematch while holding Corvallis to six, but lost the game 3-1, ending their season on the most sour of notes.

"That one's one of the worst losses I've ever been a part of because it wasn't supposed to be that way and it was definitely (Corvallis') day," said fourth-year Whitefish coach O'Brien Byrd. "They definitely got a lot of luck that day and we didn't have any. In the end, the scoring column is kind of all that matters."

But the Bulldogs are 13-0 this year, partly because they haven't overlooked opponents. Whitefish handled Billings Central 7-1 last Saturday in their quarterfinal match after pounding the Rams by 10 goals earlier in the season. Junior midfielder Matt Grindrod said the Bulldogs learned from last year's one-and-done postseason showing and were determined to not repeat it.

"I've never seen this team more focused than they were right before that (Billings Central) game," Byrd said.

Whitefish's quarterfinal win, coupled with Corvallis' 1-0 triumph at Livingston the same day, means the Bulldogs have a chance for redemption Saturday at noon when they visit Corvallis in a semifinal match. The victor faces the Columbia Falls-Hamilton winner for the state title, which is more important to the Bulldogs than exacting revenge on the Blue Devils.

"They seem pretty optimistic about their chances and they know Corvallis isn't going to give it to us down there," Byrd said. "It's going to be a battle."

Nathan Lee and Danny Gates are Corvallis' prolific scorers, but the Blue Devils proved against Livingston they don't need many shots to win. Corvallis managed just one shot on goal, but it found the net in the 60th minute and the Blue Devils held on to oust the Rangers. Livingston beat Corvallis 4-2 earlier this season.

Whitefish looks stronger than Corvallis on paper, but Byrd knows that means nothing.

"It's state, anything can happen, so a great team can lose," Byrd said. "The best team can lose and that's any sport - but we're not planning on it."

Byrd said this year's Bulldogs are one of the best teams he's ever watched or coached. Such praise would make a semifinal loss particularly painful.

"Anytime you lose at state is heartache - it's the seniors' last game," Byrd said. "But that's been our goal - to get to the final."

Losing to Corvallis would hurt, but it wouldn't render Whitefish's season a waste in Byrd's mind.

"It's not a failure because this season's been something special," Byrd said. "It's been a wild ride - no losses, no ties. It's been a rush. I never would regret the season, it's been a learning experience, not just for the kids, the athletes, but for me.

"In terms of not getting to the final this year, we would have failed, but I definitely wouldn't count the season as a total failure."

Byrd knew the Bulldogs were special in August. He knew they were deep, talented and hungry, but he didn't think they'd go undefeated.

"Coming into the season, I definitely didn't expect the season we had," Byrd said. "I mean, we had a handful of seniors that played a significant part on varsity last year, but sophomores and juniors make up the core of the team."

Whitefish junior Preston Taylor is second in Class A scoring. Juniors Jonas Magstadt and Alex Konopatzke are among Class A's top scorers as well, while juniors Grindrod, Ian Hosek, Shane Widdifield and Tyler Gardner have been impact players all season. Sophomores Jake Danczyk, Nik Ortman and Patrick Jones played extensively against Billings Central and Danczyk has been a regular contributor.

The Blue Devils are better than last year, but they haven't made any major changes.

"They've very similar," Byrd said. "I remember looking at last year's roster and there's a large number of juniors and sophomores and their goalkeeper was their saving grace. We're going to be facing him as well as a large number of kids who beat us last year and the same coach.

"It's going to be an interesting game and it's not going to be a low-scoring game. It's not going to be a 1-0 game, I promise you that."

Byrd said the teams will likely combine for at least six goals. He added that Corvallis' strengths are its goalkeeping and counter-attacking.

"Corvallis, obviously, they deserve to be here - they're a team to be reckoned with," Byrd said.

Corvallis (10-2-1) lost only one Southern A game this season and the Blue Devils hold a psychological edge against Whitefish.

"They've definitely got the confidence because they weren't supposed to win last year's game and they came into our house and beat us 3-1," Byrd said.

But Whitefish's coach believes the Bulldogs control their own destiny.

"Our team's going to decide if we win or lose, not another team," Byrd said." We're just focusing on our game and not really worrying about the team we face. It's the team that's standing in our way and it just happens to be Corvallis on Saturday."