Whitefish downs Columbia Falls, 3-2, for another Class A state title

What’s it like to lose?

There’s 10 Whitefish seniors who wouldn’t know the feeling.

That group accomplished quite a feat Saturday, not only by winning the Class A state boys title (their fourth straight) but also ending their high school soccer careers unbeaten with a 3-2 win over Northern A rival Columbia Falls.

That’s 57 total wins, two ties.

“It’s surreal,” senior Gabe Menicke said. “It’s very surreal. Pretty crazy to think about, but a great way to cap it off. I definitely have to pay my respects to all the past seniors — my brother was one of them — it wasn’t just all of us.”

Menicke scored twice, including the game-winner a few minutes before the final whistle.

“A fantastic soccer game, just a fantastic soccer game,”

Whitefish coach John Lacey said. “I’m so proud of everybody who stepped on the field and all the ones who did the work to help get us here.”

Things started fast Saturday when Whitefish took a 1-0 lead on Menicke’s goal two minutes into the game.

The Wildcats didn’t back down and tied the game 1-1 with Ethan Austin’s goal in the 23rd minute.

It remained tied through most of the second half. The Wildcats had a number of chances to score but keeper Will Peppmeier and the Whitefish defenders got in the way.

Neither team was overmatched — in fact, Columbia Falls might have spent slightly more time in Whitefish’s end.

But one thing about the Bulldogs is they don’t need a whole lot of time to do what they need to do.

“Anybody that was watching that game, both sides, whether you’re neutral or one or the other, just witnessed one of the greatest games ever played in Montana history,” Wildcats coach O’Brien Byrd said.

Chase Sabin got free in the 50th minute for a 2-1 Whitefish lead, which held up until Kai Golan’s tying tally a few minutes later.

Back and forth they went, until Menicke broke away and scored again.

Columbia Falls could have tied it shortly after on a penalty kick but didn’t finish that chance.

When the final whistles blew, there was no hesitation from the Whitefish players. They had done it, for the fourth time in a row and with a spotless record.

“To my knowledge, I don’t know whether any group of players has ever gone their entire high school career without a loss,” Lacey said. “And I know there’ve been teams that have done four in a row before, but I don’t know that a group of kids has ever been undefeated.”

For Columbia Falls, no doubt stung by the loss and knowing Whitefish had

gotten the better of them for another year, took a bit of solace in leaving it all on the field.

“As far as our boys, I’m just very proud of them,” Byrd said. “They never quit. They gave 100 percent, they had the right attitude, even when they were down. They were down three times in the game and it was the same effort and wild unrelenting energy.”

The future’s still bright for the Wildcats, who will only lose three seniors from this team. Several of their best players are juniors. Golan, the team’s leading scorer, is a sophomore.

The Wildcats finish with an 11-3-1 record.

“To Whitefish, an unbelievable amount of credit for stringing together an impressive four straight championship seasons,” Byrd said. “That’s something people don’t even dream about and congratulations to the seniors who never even lost a game. They left a legacy that will never be forgotten.”

Menicke will now turn his attention to the triple jump and the upcoming track season, with maybe some club soccer on the side.

“I have to really mentally prepare myself, but every single time we played them (Columbia Falls), it’s been so fun,” Menicke said.

Menicke’s 27 goals led all Class A boys this season, with Golan’s 21 not far behind.

Whitefish finishes the season a perfect 15-0. Lacey is hoping the winning streak will live on for the next group of players that will don a Bulldogs jersey next season.

“We didn’t talk about it a whole lot this year,” Lacey said. “I mean, we talked about at the beginning of the year that we had an opportunity and we wanted to keep it going. Certainly we now want to keep it going with the guys who are left because we’re not done. I don’t want to be done. I’m looking forward to what’s coming.”

PHOTOS: Whitefish wins fourth straight Class A title

Columbia Falls 1 1 -2

Whitefish 1 2- 3

WF — Gabe Menicke (Collin Lyman) 2:00

CF — Ethan Austin (Kai Golan) 23:00

WF — Chase Sabin (Menicke) 50:00

CF — Golan 69:00

WF — Menicke (Ryder Elliott) 78:00

Shots — CF 8, WF 9. Goalie saves — CF 6 (Bryce Dunham), WF 6 (Will Peppmeier). Corner kicks — CF 3, WF 3. Fouls — CF 13, WF 10. Cards — WF 1.