Class A soccer: WHS girls in title game
WHITEFISH — The Whitefish girls soccer team is headed to the Class A state championship game for the second time in four years after rolling Frenchtown 5-2 in a semifinal match Saturday at Smith Fields.
Whitefish (12-2-0) controlled the midfield, thoroughly outpossessed Frenchtown (9-5-1) and shut down scoring star Abbey Teagle in a game that was far more lopsided than the final scoreline suggests.
“Everything we’ve been working on all season came together today,” Whitefish coach Wendy Farrens said. “It was an awesome team effort and it was really good and fun to see everything mesh so well today.”
Whitefish will play five-time defending state champion Billings Central in the title game. Billings Central eliminated Whitefish in last year’s semifinals and advanced to this year’s final by beating Hamilton 2-1.
“My freshman year we made it to the state championship and it was an amazing experience,” Whitefish senior midfielder Caroline Carbo said. “We’re so fortunate to have this opportunity again. We’re so ready for it and every single one of us can’t wait to be out there.”
Grace Kurtz scored twice two minutes apart to give Whitefish a 2-0 lead at the 17-minute mark and the Lady Bulldogs never trailed despite giving up an own goal in the 25th minute. Perfectly weighted through balls from Anna Peterson and Haley Nicholson sprung Kurtz on her two goals and a 35-yard strike on a direct kick by Carbo gave Whitefish a 3-1 lead 29 minutes into the first half.
“I feel like we really clicked, especially the offensive line,” Kurtz said. “We were really playing well off each other and had a good flow.”
Nicholson made it 4-1 in the 42nd minute when she collected a rebound after a blocked volley and beat Frenchtown goalkeeper Keegan Wickman from 15 yards out.
Frenchtown’s Jasmine Mitchell scored on a penalty kick in the 72nd minute but it did little to change the game’s momentum as Peterson received a short ball from Kurtz six minutes later and buried a shot inside the far post from 12 yards out.
Whitefish easily could’ve won by more if it caught a few more breaks. Wickman made a diving save to deny Nicholson late in the first half and Carbo rattled a 19-yard free kick off the crossbar early in the second. Wickman made a fingertip save to stop Whitefish’s Nikita Packard in the 70th minute.
Frenchtown’s Teagle entered the game as Class A’s second-leading scorer with 27 goals, but Whitefish kept her quiet by limiting her touches and controlling the midfield.
“It was extremely important,” Carbo said of controlling the midfield. “Winning every 50-50 ball, keeping the intensity up, just really communicating and working well in there.”
Teagle had two chances in the first half but was cut off by Carbo on her first run and was forced wide by center back Madison Grady on her second. Whitefish’s other center back, Ella Kobelt, dispossessed Teagle near the end line on her first touch of the second half and goalkeeper Piper Greenwood easily saved a shot at the near post in the 63rd minute.
“We knew what to expect,” Farrens said. “(Teagle’s) a good player, but we have very good defenders and we were able to contain her and keep her not as dangerous.”
Billings Central hosts Whitefish in the championship game on Saturday at 11 a.m.
“I feel like we earned it and we’re going to bring a fierce amount of intensity to Billings that they’re not going to be ready for,” Kurtz said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Frenchtown 1 1 — 2
Whitefish 3 2 — 5
W - Grace Kurtz (assist Anna Peterson), 15:00
W - Kurtz (Haley Nicholson), 17:00
F - Whitefish own goal, 25:00
W - Caroline Carbo (direct kick), 29:00
W - Nicholson (unassisted), 42:00
F - Jasmine Mitchell (penalty kick), 72:00
W - Peterson (Kurtz), 78:00
Shots on goal - Frenchtown 8, Whitefish 40. Saves - Frenchtown 9 (Keegan Wickman), Whitefish 4 (Piper Greenwood). Corner kicks - Frenchtown 1, Whitefish 4. Fouls - Frenchtown 8, Whitefish 12. Yellow cards - Frenchtown 1. Red cards - none.
Billings Central 2,
Hamilton 1
HAMILTON — Kelsi Nusbaum scored in the 56th minute to break a 1-1 tie and Billings Central held on to advance to the state championship game for the sixth straight year.
Billings Central 1 1 — 2
Hamilton 1 0 — 1
B - Mariah Wittman (Allie Lucas), 14:00
H - Lillia Moore (unassisted), 29:00
B - Kelsi Nusbaum (Lucas), 56:00
Boys
Livingston 2,
Belgrade 1, OT
BELGRADE — Murphy Polsak scored five minutes into the second overtime to give Livingston a spot in the championship game.
The Rangers reached the semifinal by knocking off two-time defending state champion Whitefish a week earlier.
Livingston 1 0 0 1 — 2
Belgrade 1 0 0 0 — 1
B - Grant Jordan (Chris Brayton), 23:00
L - Daniel Newhouse (unassisted), 35:00
L - Murphy Polsak (unassisted), 95:00
Shots - Livingston 16, Belgrade 5. Corner kicks - Livingston 3, Belgrade 1. Fouls - Livingston 12, Belgrade 3. Saves - Livingston 3 (Cyler Cain), Belgrade 10 (Colin Scott). Cards - none.
Stevensville 4,
Billings Central 1
STEVENSVILLE — Joseph Daniels had two goals and one assist as Stevensville punched its ticket to the title game with a win over Billings Central.
Billings Central 1 0 — 1
Stevensville 2 2 — 4
S – Payden Belcourt (Joseph Fecteau), 6:00
BC – Zach Wall (Pat Comstock), 8:00
S – Joseph Fecteau (Joseph Daniels), 38:00
S – Daniels, 48:00
S – Daniels, 60:00
Shots on goal – Billings Central 18, Stevensville 18. Corner kicks – Billings Central 2, Stevensville 3. Saves – Billings Central 12 (Joey Thompson), Stevensville 11 (Daniel Bradt). Total fouls – Billings Central 9, Stevensville 11. Yellow cards – Billings Central 1. Red cards – none.