Whitefish girls to defend crown

Libby falls at Belgrade

The Daily Inter Lake

HAMILTON - The Lady Bulldogs proved they are road warriors; now they're one step from keeping their crown at home.

Carly Lengstorf and Kaitlyn Sleichter scored second-half goals Saturday as the Whitefish High girls rallied past Hamilton 2-1 in a Class A state soccer semifinal.

The victory gives the Lady Bulldogs a berth in next Saturday's championship match at Belgrade, where they will defend their title against the Panthers.

The Broncs sprinted out front when Michelle Jones scored off a Misha Trotter assist in the fourth minute. Lengstorf tied the game on a 52nd-minute penalty kick, and Sleichter capped the comeback in the 73rd minute, courtesy of Meredith Reed's assist.

"Hamilton put us under a great deal of pressure in the first half and we crumbled a little bit; we lost our composure," Whitefish coach Lini Reading said. "They were beating us to balls; they were out-hustling us."

According to Reading, the tide turned just after halftime as the Lady Bulldogs embraced a new mindset.

"We just tried to settle down and win the battle in the field," she said.

"It was a tale of two halves for sure. We dominated the second half."

Most of the game took place in the middle of the field as Whitefish out-shot Hamilton 8-4.

Goalkeeper Mariah Driscoll had six saved for Whitefish, while Megan Baker made four spectacular stops for Hamilton.

The Lady Bulldogs (9-4-1) will need their best performance to sink the Panthers (13-0-1), whom they faced in last year's semifinals as well as the 2005 championship match.

"It's just another great challenge, and we're so excited to be there," Reading said. "These girls have scratched and clawed their way through the season, and I'm just proud to be there."

Whitefish 0 2 - 2

Hamilton 1 0 - 1

WHITEFISH - Carly Lengstorf (penalty kick), 52:00; Kaitlyn Sleichter (Meredith Reed), 73:00

HAMILTON - Michelle Jones (Misha Trotter), 4:00

Shots on goal - WF 8, Ham. 4

Corner kicks - WF 1, Ham. 4

Goalie saves - WF 6 (Mariah Driscoll), Ham. 4 (Megan Baker)

Fouls - WF 13, Ham. 15

Cards - WF 2 (1 yellow, 1 red), Ham. 1 (yellow)

Belgrade 2, Libby 1 (shootout)

BELGRADE - Libby's championship hopes ended as Belgrade's Kelsey Caracciolo scored the match-clinching goal in a shootout.

The Lady Loggers led midway through the first half when Anna Valentine scored of a Kaila Forster assist. Caracciolo scored Belgrade's lone regulation goal in the 36th minute before the Panthers won the shootout 3-1.

"Any coach and any player hates to be in that situation," Libby coach Aaron Frohnmayer said of the shootout. "It's a game of chance. It really comes down to a battle of the nerves.

"They were able to put a couple more away than us."

Valentine provided the shootout goal for Libby, which finished its season 8-5-1.

"The thing that was so impressive about (the Lady Loggers) is how they carried themselves on the field and how they worked together," Frohnmayer said. "It was obvious these teams were evenly matched, and for a good portion of the first half we controlled the play.

"The level of energy and commitment in that game was as good as with any team I've coached."

Lauren Hager and Jamie Greany had Belgrade's first two shootout goals.

Libby goalkeeper Audra Poppen was sensational, posting 12 saves as the Lady Loggers were out-shot 12-4.

Libby 1 0 0 0 0 - 1

Belgrade 1 0 0 0 1 - 2

LIBBY - Anna Valentine (Kaila Forster), 21:00

BELGRADE - Kelsey Caracciolo (Alisha Novotny), 36:00

Shootout goals - Lib. 1 (Valentine), Bel. 3 (Lauren Hager, Jamie Greany, Caracciolo)

Shots on goal - Lib. 4, Bel. 12

Corner kicks - Lib. 2, Bel. 7

Goalie saves - Lib. 12 (Audra Poppen), Bel. 8 (Emily Schmit)

Fouls - Lib. 11, Bel. 6

Cards - Lib. 1 (yellow), Bel. 0