Soccer: Whitefish sweeps Libby
WHITEFISH — Casey Ling’s run in the final minutes of Tuesday’s Western A soccer match against the Libby Loggers ended with a game-winning goal that snuck past the near post to give the Whitefish Bulldogs a 2-1 home victory.
Seconds after the re-start at midfield, the final whistle sounded and Whitefish narrowly escaped a draw with their conference foe.
“We were pressing hard for a goal to get the three points in our first conference game of the season,” Whitefish coach O’Brien Byrd said.
“Casey played ferociously. He carved a little bit of space out on right side of goal and slotted the ball near post.”
Despite being out-shot 12-3, the Loggers scored first—just seven minutes into the match.
Chance Moody’s finish off of a corner kick gave the Loggers an early 1-0 lead.
Eight minutes later, forward Shanoah Montano netted the equalizer for the Bulldogs.
The score would remain deadlocked for the next 65 minutes as Libby’s defense crowded the box and waited for an opportunity to counter the Bulldogs attack.
“We were able to stop them on the counter,” Byrd said.
“We gave up that goal in the seventh minute, but for 73 minutes we stopped a whole lot of counter attacks.
“Having games like that weathers you. It gives you those emotional games that we’ll get to see later in the season. The more of those high energy, high pressure games that we see now, the better.”
Whitefish will take on the defending Class A state champions on Friday when they travel to Livingston to take on Park High. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Libby will look to rebound on Friday at 6 p.m. against Laurel in Libby.
Libby 1 0 — 1
Whitefish 1 1 — 1
L — Chance Moody 7’
W — Shanoah Montano 15’
W — Casey Ling 80’
Shots on goal — Libby 4, Whitefish 12. Saves — Libby 10 (Jacob Wood), Whitefish 3 (Sam Benkelman). Corner kicks — Libby 4, Whitefish 4. Fouls — Whitefish 7, Libby 0. Red cards — Whitefish, 1.
GIRLS
Whitefish 6, Libby 0
WHITEFISH — In her first game at striker, Whitefish senior Haley Nicholson did not disappoint, scoring four goals to lead the Bulldogs to a 6-0 rout of the Libby Loggers in a Western A home victory on Tuesday.
It took Nicholson just seven minutes into the match to score what ended up being the game-winning goal, assisted by senior Grace Kurtz, as the Bulldogs earned the shut out.
Nicholson, who scored two more goals in the first half for an early hat trick, capped off her career day in the 74th minute for the final goal of the contest.
“She’s a natural goal scorer and made it happen today,” Whitefish coach Wendy Farrens said.
“It was a nice, solid victory. It was great to get a shut out. We’re starting to come together as a team, and we’re putting our practice into play.”
Grace Kurtz assisted all but one of Nicholson’s goals and added another assist on fellow-senior Jess Baldonado’s finish in the 12th minute. Baldonado finished with two goals in the contest.
A stifling Bulldog defense didn’t concede a single shot to the Loggers, allowing Whitefish to take a commanding 5-0 lead into the half.
“(The defense) has been working really well together,” Farrens said.
“There are a couple of new faces on the back line, but they stepped up into their roles and did a great job.”
Whitefish will travel to Livingston on Friday to take on Park High at 4 p.m.
Libby is also back in action on Friday at 4 p.m., facing Laurel at home.
Libby 0 0 — 0
Whitefish 5 1 — 6
W — Haley Nicholson (Grace Kurtz) 7’
W — Jess Baldonado, (Kurtz) 12’
W — Nicholson (Kurtz) 15’
W — Boldonado 18’
W— Nicholson (Julia Houston) 29’
W — Nicholson (Kurtz) 74’
Shots on goal — Libby 0, Whitefish 26. Corner kicks — Whitefish 7, Libby 1, Saves — Libby 6 saves (Shannon Reny, Abby Ennenga), Whitefish 0 (Kess Nelson). Fouls — Libby 6, Whitefish 8. Cards — None.