Menicke runs amok over Wildcats
Whitefish's Gabe Menicke (9) shoots in the first half against Columbia Falls at Smith Fields on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls goalkeeper Bryce Dunham (1) dives on a ball in front of Whitefish's Gabe Menicke (9) in the first half at Smith Fields on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Chase Sabin (3) and Gabe Menicke (9) celebrate after Menicke's second goal in the first half against Columbia Falls at Smith Fields on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls Kai Golan (10) shoots in the second half against Whitefish at Smith Fields on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Chase Sabin (3) shoots in the first half against Columbia Falls at Smith Fields on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls' Josiah Kilman (3) scores a goal on a header off a corner kick in the second half against Whitefish at Smith Fields on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
WHITEFISH — Senior Whitefish forward Gabe Menicke had himself a day against the Columbia Falls Wildcats Saturday, scoring five goals in a 5-1 victory that essentially clinched the Northwest A conference title for the Bulldogs.
Menicke’s 21 goals are the most in the state.
“He got great service from the rest of our seniors and all the guys and Gabe’s just a special player,” Whitefish coach John Lacey said. “He’s had a great career and he’s just capping it off right now. I hope he continues to add more and get better because man, it’s really fun to watch him.”
Columbia Falls’ Josiah Kilman cut Whitefish’s lead to 2-1 before the half with his header goal off a corner kick, assisted by Dale Blickhan. The Wildcats were 1-1 in the season series last year on their way to the state final, where they lost to Whitefish. They are 0-2 against Whitefish this season, who won 4-1 in the teams’ first meeting on Sept. 14.
Though they spent a lot of time in Whitefish’s zone, the Wildcats couldn’t capitalize. It seemed like anytime Menicke had the ball, it went to the back of the net and he didn’t need a lot of time to make it happen.
“It’s tough to dominate a game, to lose 5-1 because we dominated,” Columbia Falls coach O’Brien Byrd said. “One guy scored all their goals — it’s a really, really bitter pill to swallow because in soccer usually, I mean, there’s 11 guys. You can stop one guy. Well, we couldn’t stop him, but we’re really happy. You saw the defending state champs get dominated at home.”
The Bulldogs, 10-0 overall and 6-0 in conference, have won 54 games without a loss dating back to 2017 in the state A final. They’ve since won three state titles.
“To have this kind of crowd out here, we love when the whole north Valley can showcase a great soccer game because Columbia Falls played well,” Lacey said.
Wildcats goalie Bryce Dunham had 10 saves, and Bulldogs goalies Will Peppmeier and Ethan Schott combined for nine saves. Peppmeier also had an assist on Menicke’s third goal.
Columbia Falls is 7-2-1 and 4-2 in conference. Both teams have two games remaining in the regular season.
Columbia Falls 1 0 — 1
Whitefish 2 3 — 5
WF — Gabe Menicke (Aaron Dicks) 27:00
WF — Menicke (Chase Sabin) 31:00
CF — Josiah Kilman (Dale Blickhan) 57:00
WF — Menicke (Will Peppmeier) 63:00
WF — Menicke (Sabin) 69:00
WF — Menicke 74:00
Shots — CF 11, WF 14. Goalie saves — CF 10 (Bryce Dunham), WF 9 (Will Peppmeier, Ethan Schott). Fouls — CF 9, WF 13. Cards — CF 1, WF 2.