Whitefish boys soccer advances to state title game
Columbia Falls’ Josie Windauer (15) and Billings Central’s Tess Hansen (14) go for the ball in the second half of the Class A semifinal game at Wendy’s Field at Rocky Mountain College on Saturday. (Casey Page/Billings Gazette)
FRENCHTOWN — Whitefish rode a high-flying offense to the state playoffs, but it was the Bulldogs’ defense that rose to the occasion on the biggest stage yet.
Avery Hirsch converted a penalty kick in the 50th minute to take the lead, Bradlee Anderson denied 12 Frenchtown shots and Whitefish topped the Broncs 3-1 on Saturday to advance to the Class A boys soccer state championship game. It will be the first time since 2012 that Whitefish has appeared in the title game.
“Our defense stepped forward again today,” Whitefish coach John Lacey said. “Our season has been marked by more of an attacking mentality, but in the playoff stretch, we’re playing outstanding defense.”
Whitefish’s Xander Burger opened the scoring in the 16th minute, but Frenchtown responded just before halftime with a goal from Jeff Jacobs.
After Hirsch’s penalty kick, Noah Romagnuolo added an insurance goal in the 62nd minute.
Waiting for Whitefish in the state title game is Belgrade, the defending champion that will make its fourth consecutive appearance in the championship.
The Bulldogs lost 2-1 to Belgrade earlier this year, and Lacey said his boys are ready for a shot at revenge.
“They’re fired up,” Lacey said. “They should be. At this point, every single game is big. We just want to keep playing. We’re playing good soccer.”
Whitefish 1 2 — 3
Frenchtown 1 0 — 1
W — Xander Burger (Noah Romagnuolo), 16:00
F — Jeff Jacobs (Tradd Richardson), 38:00
W — Avery Hirsch (penalty kick), 50:00
W — Romagnuolo, 62:00
Shots on goal — Whitefish 12, Frenchtown 13. Goalie saves — Whitefish 12 (Bradlee Anderson 12), Frenchtown 9 (Quinn Murphy 2, Dawson Leishman 7). Corner kicks — Whitefish 3, Frenchtown 4. Fouls — Whitefish 8, Frenchtown 5. Cards — Whitefish 3 (Casey Schneider, yellow; Avery Hirsch, yellow; Sam Menicke, red).
Belgrade 2, Polson 0
BELGRADE — Polson’s offense never got off the ground on Saturday, putting just five shots on goal in a loss to Belgrade in the Class A boys soccer state semifinals.
Belgrade scored quickly in the sixth minute and added another goal in the 56th, more than enough to eliminate the Pirates.
The Panthers’ defense limited opportunities for Polson, and those it did have were denied by Belgrade’s Luke Turner in goal.
Belgrade advances to the state title game, where it will face Whitefish.
Polson 0 0 — 0
Belgrade 1 1 — 2
B — Jared Rockwell (Tyler Monlux), 6:00
B — Josiah Russell, 56:00
Shots on goal — Polson 5, Belgrade 16. Corner kicks — Polson 2, Belgrade 9. Fouls — Polson 7, Belgrade 11. Saves — Polson 10 (Russell Smith), Belgrade 3 (Luke Turner).
GIRLS
Billings Central 3,
Columbia Falls 1
BILLINGS — Once again, Columbia Falls couldn’t get past Billings Central.
Lakia Hill scored a late goal for the Wildkats, but only after they dug themselves a hole they couldn’t climb out of in a loss to the Rams in the Class A girls soccer state semifinals on Saturday.
Billings Central put only four shots on goal in the game, but it made them count.
Zoie Althoff, the state’s leading goal scorer in Class A, put Billings Central on the board in the 12th minute, and Chloe Paharik extended the lead with a goal just three minutes later.
Paharik scored again just after halftime to give the Rams control of the match.
Hill netted a goal in the 64th minute to cut into the lead slightly, but Columbia Falls’ high-scoring attack couldn’t find its rhythm otherwise. The Wildkats managed just three shots on goal.
Columbia Falls 0 1 — 1
Billings Central 2 1 — 3
BC — Zoie Althoff (Alivia Powers), 12:00
BC — Chloe Paharik (Annie Seybert), 15:00
BC — Paharik (Althoff), 44:00
CF — Lakia Hill, 64:00
Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 3, Billings Central 4. Corner kicks — N/A. Goalie saves — Columbia Falls 1 (Madeline Jarvis), Billings Central 2 (Samantha Burk). Fouls — N/A. Cards — N/A.
Stillwater Christian 7,
Mission Valley Christian 1
A flurry of early goals sent Stillwater Christian to a win over Mission Valley Christian on Saturday.
Madi Schwartz scored two goals, her first of the year, and Jasch Vann, Marae Tinzman and Chloe Mathwig also found the net for the first time this season in the victory.
“The young ladies had a great finish to their season today,” Stillwater Christian assistant coach Robyn Fisher said. “ They did a great job possessing today, giving some of our defensive players opportunities to score.
“It was a great game to watch the girls working together to get their teammates goals.”
The Cougars scored three goals in the first 16 minutes to take control of the match early, and Schwartz capped off a huge offensive night with her goals, separated by only two minutes, in the second half.
Mission Valley Christian 0 1 — 1
Stillwater Christian 4 3 — 7
S — Alma Patrick (Lauren Pittaway), 5:00
S — Jasch Vann, 12:00
S — Marae Tinzman, 16:00
S — Chloe Mathwig (Lulu Neumann), 39:00
S — Neumann, 52:00
M — Name unavailable, 64:00
S — Madi Schwartz, 68:00
S — Schwartz, 70:00
Shots on goal — Stillwater 18, Mission Valley 2. Corner kicks — Stillwater 2, Mission Valley 1. Goalie saves — Stillwater 1, Mission Valley 1. Fouls — Stillwater 3, Mission Valley 0.