Girls playoff soccer: Peterson's goal lifts Whitefish over Livingston
<p>Whitefish junior Grace Kurtz (right) goes in for a shot as Livingston keeper Olga Mogen (32) makes a save Saturday afternoon during the Class A quarterfinal soccer matchup at Smith Fields in Whitefish.</p>
WHITEFISH — The Whitefish girls soccer team is headed to the semifinals of the Class A playoffs after a 1-0 victory over Livingston in a first-round match Saturday at Smith Fields.
Anna Peterson scored four minutes before halftime and that was all Whitefish needed as Livingston couldn’t penetrate the Bulldogs’ organized defense.
“We knew that they’d be athletic and dynamic and we’ve just been working all week on matching their intensity,” Whitefish coach Wendy Farrens said.
Whitefish had a slight edge in possession and a huge 15-5 edge in shots on goal thanks in large part to its defense, which tracked down every through ball and kept its poise when Livingston counter-attacked.
“I think the key was that we were staying in communication,” Whitefish center back Madison Grady said. “We were really just talking to each other, letting each other know what we were doing. I think because we were talking so much, we kind of knew how the other one was going to play. It just really helped us keep that back line.”
Livingston used its size to force Whitefish off the ball early and that physicality allowed the Rangers to control the first 10 minutes, but Whitefish adjusted and won more possession as the half wore on.
“You just don’t let it get you down,” Peterson said. “You just have to keep going your hardest and know that if you put in the effort, it will come through.”
Whitefish nearly took a lead in the fourth minute when Caroline Carbo headed a corner kick from Haley Nicholson on frame, but it was blocked by the Livingston defense.
Livingston answered with a dangerous cross in front of the Whitefish goal at the 18-minute mark, but Whitefish’s Becca Holdhusen won a header from Livingston’s Chelsea Woods to keep the game scoreless.
Whitefish finally broke through in the 36th minute. Jess Baldonado made a run down the right flank and crossed to Peterson, who knocked the ball past Livingston goalkeeper Olga Mogen from inside the 6-yard box.
“We always practice crosses and coach always tells us to just get to the box and make the perfect run,” Peterson said. “So I was like, this is it, this is what we practice.”
Peterson’s goal lifted Whitefish’s spirits at halftime and the Bulldogs thoroughly out-chanced Livingston after the break. Livingston’s Meghan Gibson cleared a cross from Grace Kurtz off the goal line in the 49th minute and Whitefish’s Julia Houston had a 15-yard attempt blocked by Livingston defender Ariona Brown at the 55-minute mark.
As the clock wound down, Carbo dropped into a deep holding-midfield role and combined with the Whitefish defense to deny Livingston any chances on the counter.
Kurtz nearly gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in the 79th minute when she just missed over the crossbar from 12 yards out.
Whitefish hosts Frenchtown on Saturday. Frenchtown advanced with a 6-5 victory over Laurel.
Livingston 0 0 — 0
Whitefish 1 0 — 1
WHITEFISH — Anna Peterson (assist Jess Baldonado), 36:00
Shots on goal - Livingston 5, Whitefish 15. Saves - Livingston N/A (Olga Mogen), Whitefish 3 (Piper Greenwood). Corner kicks - Livingston 1, Whitefish 3. Fouls - Livingston 9, Whitefish 5. Cards - None.
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At Frenchtown
Laurel 1 4 — 5
Frenchtown 4 2 — 6
F – Abbey Teagle, 2:00
L – Alexis Lewis, 7:00
F – Teagle, 17:00
F – Teagle (penalty kick), 22:00
F – Teagle, 34:00
F – Brooke Yarnall (Teagle), 43:00
L – Lewis (penalty kick), 45:00
L – Lewis (Allie McGrath), 51:00
F – Teagle, 54:00
L – Raquel Simenez, 69:00
L – Taylor Ludwig, 82:00
Shots on goal – Laurel 28, Frenchtown 20. Corner kicks – Laurel 8, Frenchtown 1. Saves – Laurel 9 (Katrina Baumgartner), Frenchtown 19 (Keegan Wickman). Fouls – NA. Cards – Laurel, 3 yellow.