Whitefish starts Class A state title defenses

Libby, Columbia Falls also representing Northern A

Whitefish High School boys' soccer coach O'Brien Byrd wants to make something clear: The 2007 Bulldogs have won 12 straight games, not 27.

The Bulldogs went 15-0 last fall en route to the Class A state title. They are 12-0 heading into Saturday's 1 p.m. home quarterfinal against Hamilton, but Byrd says their unprecedented victory streak is not the issue at hand.

"The 15 wins last year have nothing to do with the 12 this year," he said. "We worked hard for those 15 wins last year, and got a state championship. This year we worked our butts off for those first 12, and now we have to stay undefeated to make the dream a reality."

Whitefish, which went 8-0 in Northern A play to earn the conference's top seed, shouldn't have trouble staying focused against Southern A's third-place squad. The Bulldogs battled the Broncs in last year's title match, escaping with a 1-0 overtime victory.

"I had Hamilton as a preseason favorite, along with us, to be in the state final," Byrd said. "Of all the draws, I'd say Hamilton is the toughest possible challenge we could face right out the gate.

"They're a strong, fast team that uses their physical presence. It's going to be a great match-up because you've got size and strength versus speed and guile."

The Bulldogs have experienced postseason glory and disappointment. Seniors Preston Taylor, Shane Widdifield, Matt Grindrod, Alex Konopatzke, Jonas Magstadt, Ian Hosek and Tyler Gardner were sophomores when Whitefish won the conference before losing its quarterfinal match to Corvallis - a No. 3 seed.

Byrd is confident the Bulldogs won't overlook another first-round opponent.

"The biggest reason is I have a tremendous group of seniors that I've had over the last four years that have not just jelled, but grown into fine young men," he said. "They demand the best out of the team. They want it worse than I do."

The Lady Bulldogs also begin their state title defense Saturday when they host Southern A No. 3 Corvallis at 3 p.m.

Whitefish (7-4-1 overall, 6-1-1 Northern A) made a remarkable run to another conference crown despite graduating 12 seniors from last fall's team.

This year's squad has the talent, leadership and suffocating defense to give any opponent fits, especially the Blue Devils, whom the Lady Bulldogs blanked 7-0 last month.

"We're going into this game with that completely erased from our minds," Whitefish coach Lini Reading said. "Corvallis is better than that. We had one of those games where we were just on."

The Lady Bulldogs allowed just two goals in conference play and five since their opening weekend - all on set pieces.

And while last year's upperclassmen played with a refuse-to-lose attitude, Whitefish's fresh faces are eager to showcase their own considerable talents.

"You lose a group of kids who have been in your program for four years, there's going to be some major changes," Reading said. "I'm so proud of the girls in our junior and senior classes of how they've done their best to be at their best all the time.

"It's all about their desire, their work, their leadership."

The Lady Bulldogs have dealt with loads of injuries and adversity, but those blows have been softened by their unselfishness.

Seniors Kaitlyn Sleichter and Alissa LaChance are just two of Whitefish's steadying forces.

"We have numerous junior leaders out there as well," Reading said. "They're going to sell out, they're going to put their bodies on the line to win."

Junior Kelsey McCluskey was the team's second-leading scorer last fall, but traded the glory of goals for the blue-collar duties of sweeper. Junior Mariah Driscoll, who possesses excellent field skills, stepped into goalkeeper to fill a team need.

The Lady Bulldogs would love to shut Corvallis out again while winning possessions and capitalizing on scoring chances. But Reading said their priority is making sure the Blue Devils earn anything they get.

"We have lost to teams that we shouldn't have lost to, and that's really fresh in our minds," she said. "We have given away some games this season. Our goal is to make Corvallis beat us, not give them the game."

Northern A No. 2 Libby (7-4-1, 4-3-1) split a pair of 1-0 games with the Lady Bulldogs this fall.

The Lady Loggers visit Southern A No. 2 Stevensville on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a rematch of their season opener, which Libby won 3-0.

"It's a team that we have played, and I think we match up pretty well against, actually," Libby coach Aaron Frohnmayer said. "Of course, I don't know how they've improved over the year."

Libby's sound play has been buoyed by a tenacious defense, including senior captains Quinn Wilson and Trista Berget, Mechelle Wilson, Nicole Lapka, Rachael Sweedman and keeper Audra Poppen.

"Those have been pretty much the stalwarts in the back, and that's been the most consistent part of the team," Frohnmayer said.

"We have been inconsistent offensively, but we've had a good performance from the back four, and that's how we've built our season."

The Lady Loggers fell to Hamilton in the quarterfinals last year, but Frohnmayer is excited for them to showcase their talent and improvement on a big stage.

"I feel like this team is prepared to make a run in the playoffs," he said. "We've been practicing hard … we're very excited about the opportunity, and we're really hoping for a good performance Saturday."

Libby's boys went 5-2-1 in conference, losing only to Whitefish.

The Loggers begin their state run Saturday morning at 11 when they visit Southern A No. 2 Corvallis.

Libby coach Mike Wickstrom said the Loggers don't have much experience against or knowledge of the Blue Devils.

"Only what I'm hearing," he said. "I know they spanked Stevensville the last day (of the season). I hear they're tall and fast. I hear they've got a good sweeper."

Riley Hoyer and Jay Rosencrantz lead Libby's potent scoring attack, while Matt Wickstrom is a tireless worker in the middle. Dustin Morningstar has been a defensive stalwart.

"I think our unselfish play and speed on the ball," Mike Wickstrom said of the keys to Libby's success.

"We've been practicing well, and frankly we can't wait to get on the bus."

The Columbia Falls boys (6-5-1, 3-4-1) visit Eastern A No. 1 Billings Central today at 4 p.m. in a rematch of the 2005 state title tilt.

The Wildcats won that contest in overtime, but much has changed since.

"I don't know a lot about them," Columbia Falls coach Peter Browne said. "I talked to a couple common opponents. They played Livingston, and we (defeated) Livingston, but teams get better down the road.

"I think if we have a good game plan and we play with our hearts, hopefully we'll get a pretty good result."

The Wildcats don't boast the sterling record they've hauled to past postseasons, but they are battle tested thanks to their tough conference.

"I think that if we play to our potential we should be able to play with any team in A," Browne said. "I don't think we're going to meet something we're not prepared for."

Columbia Falls has an outstanding goalkeeper in junior George Kimerly, while seniors Cody Bowman, Casey Hebert, DJ Stoneman and Josh McNeil look to keep the Wildcats steady for 80 minutes.

"This is a good test for us," Browne said. "Ultimately it really comes down to the athletes and how bad they really want it."

Columbia Falls' girls visit Eastern A champion Belgrade on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Wildkats (6-4-2, 3-3-2) narrowly missed out on Northern A's second seed, but have a chance to hit their stride against the Panthers, who reached the semifinals last year.

Columbia Falls faced Belgrade in nonconference play, losing 4-0 in what was its fourth match in eight days.

"They're pretty good everywhere," Columbia Falls coach Greg Trenerry said. "They have a lot of depth and they're fast up front."

The Wildkats have shown the ability to defend and score with the best, but consistency will be key Saturday.

"The main thing is if we can win balls in the middle and win the midfield and distribute well and get balls to the forwards," Trenerry said.

"The other thing is playing a full 80 minutes. We seem to play the first half and part of the second. Now we have to play a whole 80."

Kassi Hebert and Jamie Valov lead Columbia Falls up front. Linsey Henning has been outstanding in the midfield, while Jylisa Fields, Kate Anderson and Ashili Fairbank anchor the defense in front of sensational keeper Colyne Hislop.

"It's a new season now, they know that," Trenerry said. "There were a lot of close games there in our conference."