Bulldogs win state soccer

WHITEFISH - The Whitefish boys soccer team was under a lot of pressure.

There were family members and friends looking on, a title game atmosphere and the season-long expectation that the only successful outcome would be a state championship.

The unflappable Bulldogs delivered.

Whitefish (13-2-0) knocked off Polson 3-0 to claim its fourth state crown in 10 years and its 12th consecutive win of the season Saturday afternoon at the Smith Fields.

"These kids, I'm just so happy for these kids," said Whitefish coach O'Brien Byrd, his shirt still damp after being doused with a cooler of water, compliments of his players.

"They kept their focus. Because from the beginning of the season, when we started stringing together these wins, it felt like we have to win this. There is no other result that would satisfy us but to win state. They did it."

As the whistle blew, signifying the end of play, the Bulldog bench exploded on to the field as their teammates removed their shirts and waved them wildly at the crowd.

Then the crowd came to them.

The student body sprinted across the field and embraced their friends and classmates.

One student marched to the middle of the field and planted a Whitefish banner, sending the Bulldog faithful into another frenzy.

Then the team was handed the state championship plaque. Hardware in hand, players struggled to describe the meaning of the moment.

"It feels great," said Whitefish goalkeeper Thomas Clark, who made five saves to earn a shutout. "It's kind of surreal, you never expect it. The first day of tryouts I don't think anyone thought this could happen. It's just crazy. I don't think it will sink in till tomorrow."

Well, at least one of Clark's teammates thought it could happen. Senior captain Joseph Perry recalled his comments at a booster event that preceded the fall sports season.

Captains were asked to make a few comments. Instead, he made a prediction.

"I just took the microphone and said, ‘we are going to win state,'" he said.

"Everybody wanted it this year."

Perry and other Whitefish seniors had been to the precipice of a championship before. As sophomores, they were part of a Whitefish team that advanced all the way to the title game in 2009 only to fall to Belgrade.

Perry described the result as "like a broken heart."

Matty McCrone agreed, but said the experience might have helped the 2011 Bulldogs.

"It helped a lot for this game because I knew what to expect and how many people would be here, the pressure to expect and the stress that I'd be feeling," McCrone said. "I just used that knowledge to try and help the guys get through that stress and nervousness."

Whitefish certainly never looked apprehensive Saturday.

The Bulldogs put the pressure on the Pirates early, keeping the ball on Polson's end of the field and peppering goalkeeper Peregrine Frissell with shots from all angles.

"We were controlling the pace, the tempo, the rhythm of the game," Byrd said. "We were controlling the possession and Polson didn't get many looks because of that.

"They can't attack when they don't have the ball. They definitely didn't have a lot of chances."

It was only a matter of time before the Whitefish offense hit paydirt.

And it was no surprise when the person to do it was junior Sam Donaldson, the state's leading scorer.

It happened in the 33rd minute when Donaldson took a pass from Sean Janni deep in Polson's territory.

"My friend Sean gave me a perfect ball right to my foot and I beat a guy," Donaldson said. "I took my shot. It kind of bounced off the goalie wrong and I just chased it in."

The goal did more than give Whitefish the lead. It revived a team that had lost a key player - Elior Rossi - to a knee injury early in the half.

"It was like we got scored on when Elior hurt his knee," Byrd said. "You see your teammate, a very good player, go down. (We) could have reacted poorly, could have changed the way we play, but we didn't. We stuck with it."

The 1-0 advantage lasted through halftime.

The Pirates had their best opportunity to score in the 51st minute. James Larson crossed the ball in front of the goal, but the shot that followed hit the right post and sailed away from the net.

"It made my heart jump a little bit," said Clark, the Whitefish goalkeeper.

Five minutes later, the Bulldogs gave themselves some breathing room. Polson goalkeeper Peregrine Frissell blocked an initial shot after a corner kick, but the Bulldogs collected it and Nathan Boone scored with an assist from Curran Edland.

"When we got that second goal I was fairly confident that if we just play our game, they're not going to be able to get a goal," McCrone said.

Polson challenged Whitefish with more ferocity as the clock winded down, but Whitefish continued to play aggressively on defense.

Then Whitefish came up with its third and final goal. Janni and Donaldson got behind the Polson defense. Donaldson hit Janni with a near-perfect cross and Janni buried it in the back of the net in the 80th minute.

The score sent a wave of enthusiasm and a feeling of finality across the Whitefish bench. Minutes later, they were hoisting the Class AA state championship plaque.

"Words can't even describe it," said Whitefish senior Mark Stormes. "It's just unbelievable. We've come a long ways. It's just amazing."

It didn't take long for thoughts to drift toward next season. The Bulldogs will return many of their players, among them Donaldson, the state's most potent offensive player.

As the team celebrated, several players could be heard shouting "back-to-back next year."

Whitefish has done it before, claiming titles in 2006 and 2007 under Byrd.

Now he has three in his five trips to the championship game. He admits Whitefish will be tough to beat next season, but he's going to dwell on this one before he starts talking repeat.

"It won't hit me until tomorrow morning. I remember this feeling," he said. "Because I'll wake up tomorrow and it will feel like a dream."

Polson 0 0 - 0

Whitefish 1 2 - 3

WHITEFISH - Sam Donaldson (Sean Janni), 33:00; Nathan Boone (Curran Edland), 56:00, Janni (Donaldson) 80:00.

Shots on goal - Polson 7, Whitefish 15

Corner kicks - Polson 4, Whitefish 5

Saves - Polson 9 (Peregrine Frissell), Whitefish 5 (Thomas Clark)

Fouls - Polson 8, Whitefish 8

Cards - none