Girls bedevil Corvallis, head to semis

By DAVID ERICKSON - Whitefish Pilot

The Lady Bulldogs, playing a scrappy, physical Corvallis team, came away with a quarterfinal Class A playoff victory on Saturday at Smith Fields, blanking the Blue Devils 2-0.

"We're excited for the win, but it wasn't our best game," head coach Lini Reading said. "We want to save that for the end, I hope."

The Whitefish girls controlled the field for most of the game, holding the Blue Devils to a single shot on goal, although the Corvallis girls were in scoring territory several times.

Megan Powell hit the net in the 27th minute off a marvelous through-ball from Kaitlyn Sleichter. The ball sailed over the goalkeeper Tabitha Hooden's head, and the Whitefish girls had drawn first blood.

Another gorgeous pass came halfway through the second half, when Meredith Reed broke away from the Corvallis defense to take a cross from defender Hayley Murphy. Reed only needed two touches to drive the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper, who never had a chance. Reed was celebrating before the ball even came to rest.

The Blue Devils played a much improved game from earlier in the season, when Whitefish blew them out 7-0.

Hooden made 15 saves, many of them reflexive and acrobatic stops of nice Bulldog attacks. The Blue Devils created scoring opportunities from their sideline throw-ins, as they have a "California-throw" specialist, who flips over the ball and sends it into center-field.

"It was like giving up 12 corner kicks," Reading said.

The Bulldog defense, helped by Carly Lengstorf, held off every onslaught.

"Carly wins the balls in the air, so we had her back," Reading said. "And we made sure we had everyone marked up."

Reading said everybody worked hard, and it was a team effort.

"There were no all-stars," she said. "They kind of step up when it gets tough."

Reading said her freshman goalie Callie Marsh has really stepped up big in the playoffs so far.

"We're really pleased with her stepping in," she said.

Whitefish played a very good possession game in the second half, keeping the Blue Devils frustrated.

The Lady Bulldogs travel to Hamilton for the semi-final round on Saturday, and Reading said she expects a tough game.

"Their kids work hard, they're very serious athletes," she said. "We'll have to play our best game."

Reading said her juniors have played in the final game every year of their high school career, and they want to keep that streak alive.

"We'll have to re-group and keep our composure if they put the pressure on us," she said.

Kick-off against Hamilton away is set for 2 p.m.

Corvallis 0 0 — 0

Whitefish 1 1 — 2

Whitefish — Megan Powell (Kaitlyn Sleichter), 27:00; Meredith Reed (Hayley Murphy), 52:00

Shots on goal — Corv. 1, WF 18

Corner kicks — Corv. 3, WF 6

Goalie saves — Corv. 15 (Tabitha Hooten), WF 4 (Callie Marsh)

Fouls — Corv. 12, WF 10

Cards — None.