Whitefish's playoff run ends in girls soccer
WHITEFISH — The improbable run of the Whitefish Bulldogs girls soccer team came to an end on Saturday afternoon, as the Laurel Locomotives advanced to the Class A state championship game, defeating Whitefish 3-0 in the semifinals at Smith Fields.
After defeating the South conference champion Hamilton Broncs in the first round, Whitefish (6-6-2), the last team out of the North A conference to make the playoffs, was hoping for another postseason upset to contend for the state championship, but it just wasn’t to be.
Possesion and scoring chances were about equal for each team in the first half. Ten minutes into the match, Whitefish sophomore Haley Nicholson took a free kick that traveled to the far post where senior Jess Baldonado volleyed it hard off the post for one of the Bulldogs closest scoring opportunities.
As the match went back and forth, Whitefish couldn’t convert while the Locomotives did. With four minutes left in the half, Laurel midfielder Demi Albrecht sent a cross into the box that found the foot of senior midfielder Jamie Barta. Barta quickly settled the ball and shot to the far left post for the first goal of the match.
In the second half, Laurel controlled the possession rather favorably, and its defense ramped up the intensity, limiting any chance for a Bulldog comeback.
The Locomotives (11-2-2) played an aggressive counterattack that led to two more goals, including Allie McGrath’s finish in the 63rd minute. McGrath got behind the Whitefish defense, outrunning the last line before striking a low shot that was just out of the reach of goalkeeper Kess Nelson. It was the third Laurel goal that all but punched their ticket to the title game.
“We played pretty well and had our fair share of chances,” Whitefish coach Wendy Farrens said.
“We just struggled finishing. We knew we could get in behind them, finding little gaps, but they have a good, strong, fast, back line. We got into good spaces, but didn’t have good finishing opportunities.”
While the loss crushed the Bulldogs’ title hopes, the future is bright. With just two seniors on the roster, Baldonado and Grace Kurtz, the Bulldogs will return 14 of the 16 varsity roster spots for next season.
“We’re pretty young. I told them after the game we were the little team that could,” Farrens said.
“Our two senior captains had a great season. They’re great leaders and were going to miss them.”
Laurel 1 2 — 3
Whitefish 0 0 — 0
LAUREL — Jamie Barta (Demi Albrecht) 36:00; Jessica Elmer (Barta) 43:00; Allie McGrath, 63:00
Shots on goal — Laurel 17, Whitefish 14; Goalie saves — Laurel 6 (Paige O’Toole), Whitefish 6 (Kess Nelson); Corner kicks — Laurel 4, Whitefish 1; Fouls — Laurel 4, Whitefish 2. Cards — None.