Dawgs sweep C-Falls in clash of Class A’s finest

WHITEFISH — Once the Whitefish Bulldogs get going, it’s really hard to stop them.

Just ask the Columbia Falls Wildcats, who fell to the Bulldogs 5-0 in a Northwestern A boys soccer game in a battle of undefeated teams at Smith Fields on Saturday.

“It’s fun to see when stakes go up, everybody gets a show,” Whitefish coach John Lacey said. We’re grateful for the competition and for the good play.”

The Bulldogs (8-0-1 overall, 5-0-1 in league) scored all five of their goals in the second half, three of those in a span of 11 minutes and recorded the first shutout of the year.

Columbia Falls (7-1-1, 4-1-1) controlled the first half of play, dominating possession and scoring chances.

But the second half belonged to the Bulldogs, who have won 38 consecutive games and two state titles over the past two years.

“Coming out with a little more defensive pressure in the second half got us the ball and we did what we do — go score goals,” Lacey said. “There were a few things that we were a little lax on in the first half. These guys are seniors, they’ve been in situations like this before so I’m not surprised but I’m glad that they stepped up when they did.”

Junior defenseman Darby McCarthy connected with junior forward Gabe Menicke in the 42nd minute, and the floodgates opened.

“Stuff fell for us pretty easily in the second half,” Lacey said. “We were happy about that.”

Marvin Kimera, a senior forward, added another goal at 50:00 and Menicke found the back of the net again three minutes later.

“Our tactics were on point until they scored and then everything went out the window and all of a sudden we were afraid,” Columbia Falls coach O’Brien Byrd said. “Which is the first time we’ve seen that from our boys this year.”

Senior midfielder Brandon Mendoza checked in with assists on goals by Kimera and Menicke, then scored his own in the 65th minute. James Thompson also scored.

“They (the seniors) knew it was their last game potentially against C-Falls and so all those guys up front did great,” Lacey said. “Especially that second half effort — it was a lot stronger. It was really good.”

Columbia Falls played without starting goalkeeper Bryce Dunham, who was injured. Niels Getts, who usually plays midfield for the Wildcats was instead between the pipes. Getts made seven saves.

Will Peppmeier made five saves for the Bulldogs.

When the Wildcats and Bulldogs last played Sept. 17, it ended in a 1-1 tie.

“Without a doubt I think you’re looking at the two best teams in the state,” Byrd said. “They played with the confidence that they should play with and we had zero confidence. I’m extremely happy with the first half, though. Our tactics, our game plan was working great. We had a few chances to score … Whitefish is just such an experienced team.”

Columbia Falls 0 0 — 0

Whitefish 0 5 — 5

WF - Gabe Menicke (Darby McCarthy), 42:00

WF - Marvin Kimera (Brandon Mendoza) 50:00

WF - Menicke (Mendoza), 53:00

WF - James Thompson (Niath Edland), 55:00

WF - Mendoza (Kimera), 65:00

Shots on goal - Columbia Falls 5, Whitefish 12. Goalie saves - Columbia Falls 7 (Neils Getts), Whitefish 5 (Will Peppmeier). Corner kicks - Columbia Falls 4, Whitefish 4. Fouls - Columbia Falls 15, Whitefish 13.

Girls

Whitefish 2, Columbia Falls 1

WHITEFISH — The Whitefish Lady Bulldogs stayed undefeated with a 2-1 Northwest A win over the Columbia Falls Wildkats on Saturday.

Senior Ali Hirsch and sophomore Brooke Roberts each scored in the first half for a 2-0 lead that held up most of the game. Wildkats’ senior and Class A leading scorer Maddie Robison cut that lead in half with her 26th goal of the season at 67 minutes.

“In the past, Columbia Falls has always taken us out of the way we play,” Whitefish coach Roland Benedict said. “This year we matched them physically. Playing physically allows us to play soccer that wears teams down.”

Robison was freshman midfielder Isabelle Cooke’s assignment, and Benedict was impressed by her performance. “She was in her back pocket,” he commented.

Benedict also highlighted the play of Sophie Olson, Maya Lacey, Adrienne Healy, Josie Schneider, Katie Benkleman and Hirsch.

“They all played fantastic composed games,” he said.

Whitefish (8-0-1 overall, 5-0-1 league) swept the season series with Columbia Falls (7-2-0, 4-2-0). The Bulldogs beat the Wildkats 1-0 on Sept. 17.

Columbia Falls 0 1 — 1

Whitefish 2 0 — 2

W - Ali Hirsch (Sophie Olson), 23:00

W - Brooke Roberts (Adrienne Healy), 34:00

CF - Maddie Robison (Hope McAtee), 67:00

Shots on goal - Columbia Falls 13, Whitefish 24. Goalie saves - Columbia Falls 10 (Nevaeh Carlin), Whitefish 7 (Sami Galbraith). Corner kicks - Columbia Falls 2, Whitefish 5. Fouls - Columbia Falls 7, Whitefish 14. Cards - Columbia Falls 1, Whitefish 1.

Polson 10, Libby 0

POLSON — Tia Mercer scored four goals and had five assists for the Polson Lady Pirates in a 10-0 rout of the Libby Loggers.

Kyla Heiser scored two goals and added two assists for Polson (2-6-0 overall, 2-4-0 league); Autumn Burland also scored two goals.

Libby falls to 1-6-1 and 1-5-0.

Libby 0 0 — 0

Polson 4 6 — 10

P - Tia Mercer (Lily Armstrong), 25:00

P - Mercer (Kyla Heiser), 29:00

P - Heiser (Mercer), 31:00

P - Autumn Burland (Mercer), 33:00

P - Sophia Moderie (Mercer), 40:00

P - Heiser (Mercer), 41:00

P - Mercer (Moderie), 46:00

P - Mercer (Heiser), 61:00

P - Ali Hupka, 79:00

P - Burland (Mercer), 80:00