Girls soccer: Bulldogs, Wildkats fall in semifinals

HAMILTON - A dramatic Class A semifinal match ended in disappointment and defeat for the Whitefish girls soccer team Saturday.

The Bulldogs fell to the Hamilton Broncs 5-4 in a shootout that followed a 1-1 draw in regulation.

"It was definitely competitive," Whitefish coach Wendy Farrens said. "We had our chances, they had there's. It was hard fought. My hat is off to them.

"Obviously we want to get the win and go to the finals ... But everyone on the field just played their hearts out."

Hamilton (11-2-0) entered the match as the No. 1 seed out of the Southern division of Class A. Whitefish (7-5-1) was the No. 2 seed in the Northern.

The Bulldogs took the lead in the 50th minute after a scoreless first half when Natalie Gayner took a pass from Cherstin Ling and booted it into the net.

The lead lasted until the 68th minute when Cree Lehrman scored for the Broncs.

Whitefish missed its first of five shots in the shootout while Hamilton made good on all of of their attempts.

The two teams were neck-and-neck in all statistical categories. Whitefish had 18 shots on goal and Hamilton had 16.

While disappointed, Farrens said she was proud of the team and thankful for the help of assistant coaches Andrew Bestwick and Chris Terrell

"State semifinalist isn't too shabby," Farrens said.

Whitefish 0 1 - 1

Hamilton 0 1 - 1

WHITEFISH - Natalie Gayner (Cherstin Ling), 50:00.

HAMILTON - Cree Lehrman (N/A), 68:00

Shots on goal - Whitefish 18, Hamilton 16

Corner kicks - Whitefish 3, Hamilton 3

Goalie saves - Whitefish 6 (Piper Greenwood), Hamilton 10 (N/A)

Fouls - N/A

Cards - Whitefish, 1 red and 1 yellow

Billings Central 5, Columbia Falls 0

BILLINGS - The three-time reigning state champion Billings Central Rams will have a chance to make it four in a row after dispatching Columbia Falls.

A Wildkat team that scored 13 goals en route to a quarterfinal win over Missoula Loyola last week couldn't generate any offense against the Rams.

Columbia Falls was outshot 15-4 in the game.

The Rams (13-1-0) were led by Allie Lucas, who scored three times and provided one assist.

Columbia Falls finished the season with an overall record of 11-2-1.

Though the Wildkats couldn't find the back of the net Friday, they led all of Class A in goals this season with 82 in the regular season.

Columbia Falls 0 0 - 0

Billings Central 2 3 - 5

BILLINGS CENTRAL - Allie Lucas (Sammy Elliott), 12:00; Holly Davison (A. Lucas), 28:00; A. Lucas (Kayla Lucas), 42:00; A. Lucas (Aubree Trunkle), 55:00; Maya Arce, 60:00.

Shots on goal - Columbia Falls 4, Billings Central 15

Goalie saves - Columbia Falls 4 (Kira Kamrud, Andrea Getts), Billings Central 3 (Hadley Ryan)