Big kicks for Bulldogs in sweep of Bigfork
Whitefish's James Thompson fires a shot against heavy defense during a home battle with Bigfork. The Bulldogs won 7-1. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish's Josie Schneider takes on a trio of Bigfork defenders during a home match at Smith Fields. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Wildkat Sydney Mann goes the ground while battling Polson's Lilly Armstrong Thursday. (Jeremy Weber/Hungry Horse News)
WHITEFISH — The Whitefish Bulldogs continued their dominance with a 7-1 rout of the Bigfork Vikings at Smith Fields on Thursday.
At 10-0, the Bulldogs are undefeated and are 6-0 in Northern A. They have won 25 straight games and were 15-0 last year.
It was Whitefish’s senior night. There are eight seniors on this year’s Bulldog squad.
“Lots of celebrating and honoring the senior class,” Whitefish coach John Lacey said. “It’s a group that’s done a lot for Whitefish soccer. We’re really proud of them.”
Whitefish’s next game is 7 p.m. Thursday at Polson.
Bigfork hosts Columbia Falls for a 3 p.m. game.
Bigfork 0 1 — 1
Whitefish 3 4 — 7
W — James Thompson (Chase Sabin) 23:00
W — Sam Menicke (Sabin) 27:00
W — Riley Arendt (Darby McCarthy) 40:00
W — Ian Lacey (S. Menicke) 53:00
B — Ben Pilskans 60:00
W — McCarthy 72:00
W — Brandon Mendoza (Aaron Dicks) 77:00
W — Marvin Kimera (Gabe Menicke) 78:00
Shots on goal — Bigfork 4, Whitefish 20; Goalie saves — Bigfork 13 (Caden Riedesel), Whitefish 3 (Bradlee Anderson, Joe Brandt); Corners — Bigfork 0, Whitefish 8; Fouls — Bigfork 5, Whitefish 7
Columbia Falls 2, Polson 1
COLUMBIA FALLS — Niels Getts’ penalty kick just before the half was the game-winner for the Columbia Falls Wildcats against the Polson Pirates.
“It was ugly but it was a win,” Columbia Falls coach O’Brien Byrd said. “I think we were a little drained from the intense Whitefish game [Tuesday]. We were kind of experiencing doldrums from that game.”
Simon Magg scored the Wildcats’ first goal and Kaden Nelson answered for Polson (3-6 overall, 2-3 conference).
Columbia Falls is 4-5-1 and 4-2 in Northern A play.
Polson 1 0 — 1
Columbia Falls 2 0 — 2
CF — Simon Magg (Johnny Carl) 6:00
P — Kaden Nelson (Landin Becker) 14:00
CF — Niels Getts (penalty kick) 39:00
Shots on goal — Polson 10, Columbia Falls 12; Goalie saves — Polson 4 (Gabe Mergenthaler 4), Columbia Falls 9 (Story Stemborski); Corner kicks — Polson 1, Columbia Falls 4; Fouls — Polson 11, Columbia Falls 13, Cards — N/A.
Girls
Whitefish 8, Bigfork 0
WHITEFISH — Whitefish blanked the Bigfork Valkyries, scoring eight goals and not allowing a shot on goal in a dominant win.
“For me it was an emotional night because it was senior night for our team,” Whitefish coach Roland Benedict said. “We played very well and we gave a great performance.”
The Bulldogs (6-4, 4-2) lost senior Abigail Shaffer to an ACL tear in a game against Columbia Falls earlier in the season.
Benedict called it an “emotional game” for her.
The Bulldogs have a 5 p.m. game in Polson Thursday. Bigfork will host Columbia Falls Thursday at 5 p.m.
Bigfork 0 0 — 8
Whitefish 3 5 — 8
W — Josie Schneider (Grace Benkleman) 5:00
W — Taylor Gentry (Sophie Olson) 30:00
W — Gentry 36:00
W — Josephine Brown (Benkleman) 47:00
W — Emma Barron 55:00
W — Anna Cook (Olson) 58:00
W — Olson (Mary Peterson) 59:00
W — Sofie Saurey (Brown) 77:00
Shots on goal — Bigfork 0, Whitefish 37; Goalie saves — Bigfork 16, Whitefish 0 (Sami Galbraith); Corner kicks — Bigfork 0, Whitefish 10; Fouls — Bigfork 3, Whitefish 7; Cards — Bigfork 1.
Columbia Falls 2, Polson 1
COLUMBIA FALLS — LaKia Hill scored the game-winner for the Columbia Falls Wildkats with six minutes left in the game to lift them past Polson.
“Huge credit to [her] for scoring the game winner with six mins left,” Wildkats coach Thomas Clark said. “It’s not easy to do. I’m proud of her and happy with the result.”
The game was tied at the half from goals by Columbia Falls’ Josie Windauer and Polson’s Sophia Moderie.
Columbia Falls leads the Northern A conference with a 9-1 overall record and a 6-0 conference record. Polson is 3-6 and 2-3.
“It was a really challenging game and [Polson] made it difficult for us to score goals,” Clark said. “They came in with a game plan and did great job of executing that.”
Polson 1 0 — 1
Columbia Falls 1 1 — 2
CF — Josie Windauer 36:00
P — Sophia Moderie 38:00
CF — LaKia Hill 74:00
Shots on goal — Polson 10, Columbia Falls 29; Goalie saves — Polson 27, Columbia Falls 11 (Ave McDonald); Corner kicks — Polson 1, Columbia Falls 5; Fouls — Polson n/a, Columbia Falls 1; Cards — Columbia Falls 1.