Bulldogs buck Broncs

Whitefish boys advance to semis

WHITEFISH - The Bulldogs didn't need long to adjust to the Broncs.

The Whitefish High School boys' soccer team throttled Hamilton 6-2 Saturday in a Class A state quarterfinal match.

Jonas Magstadt and Preston Taylor notched hat tricks, and the defending state champion Bulldogs scored five first-half goals in a rematch of last year's title tilt.

The Bulldogs (13-0) needed overtime to edge Hamilton (9-2-2) last fall, but the Bulldogs feasted on the Broncs' high-risk strategy Saturday.

Hamilton employed an offside trap, moving its defenders forward in a straight line whenever a Bulldog raced upfield in anticipation of a forward pass. The Broncs' tactic, designed to draw Whitefish's attackers behind them and into an offside position, led to some early offside offenses as well as several goals.

"The problem with an offside trap is you're creating big space behind it," Whitefish coach O'Brien Byrd said. "Our biggest attribute offensively is our incredible pace, so it was an interesting choice.

"In the pros and in college, that's how you keep speedy players honest. However, it takes an incredible amount of communication and chemistry for you to pull that off."

The tone was set early as Shane Widdifield delivered two jaw-dropping assists to Preston Taylor, who put Whitefish ahead 2-0 by the 22nd minute. Magstadt capped the first half with a natural hat trick, giving the Bulldogs a 5-1 lead at the break.

"After about five or six minutes, we really got into it," Magstadt said. "Each player has a really good individual talent, and we played really well as a team."

The Broncs generated plenty of their own pressure, but found themselves down 3-0 after Magstadt's penalty kick in the 23rd minute.

"When we set the tempo we dictate the pace of the game," Byrd said. "I'm sure they wanted to slow it down badly, but we just tried to keep them unsettled. Sure enough, three goals in quick succession."

Scott Sheahan scored both of Hamilton's goals, including a second-half penalty kick. The teams combined for 28 penalties and seven yellow cards in a highly-physical match.

"There was a lot of emotion in this game because it's a rematch of last year's final," Hamilton coach Randy Lint said. "This was the two best teams in the state today; there's no question in my mind."

It was a well-rounded effort for the deep Bulldogs, who continually reshuffled their lineup due to yellow cards and minor injuries.

"(Alex Konopatzke) was the glue between our defense and our attack," Byrd said. "He's the glue, he holds us together. You've got (Widdifield) on the other end of the spectrum; he creates. You've got Renzo (Caimi) behind (Konopatzke); he locks it up, keeps the screws tight."

Magstadt called Widdifield a "very creative player," citing his ability to envision two passes ahead of himself.

"They never stop surprising me," Byrd said of Widdifield's passes. "It's just something you do not see at this level. I've had successful teams, I've had brilliant players go on and play Division I soccer, and that kid - he creates something out of nothing because nobody, including yours truly, knows what he's going to do with that ball."

Magstadt's final goal came in the 38th minute when he bulled his way through defensive traffic, gaining control of his own deflections over and over before seemingly willing the ball into the net.

Taylor's spectacular performance could have been even more special had he received more passes.

"He was untouchable," Byrd said. "He was one of the only players that was unfazed by the environment and just continued to out-work the opponent."

The Bulldogs visit Livingston later this week. The Rangers reached the semifinals with an overtime victory over Stevensville.

Hamilton 1 1 - 2

Whitefish 5 1 - 6

HAMILTON - Scott Sheahan (Noah Engbrecht), 36:00; Sheahan (penalty kick), 46:00

WHITEFISH - Preston Taylor (Shane Widdifield), 10:00; Taylor (Widdifield), 22:00; Jonas Magstadt (penalty kick), 23:00; Magstadt (penalty kick), 32:00; Magstadt, 38:00; Taylor (Marc Hotzfield), 76:00

Shots on goal - Ham. 6, WF 11

Corner kicks - Ham. 0, WF 3

Goalie saves - Ham. 5 (Brian Sheahan and Adam Willmarth), WF 8 (Joe Galbraith 6, Antranik Daoud 2)

Fouls - Ham. 9, WF 19

Cards - Ham. 2 (yellow), WF 5 (yellow)