Whitefish girls fall to Billings in title game

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

The Whitefish girls had to settle for state champion runner-up status for the second year in a row on Saturday, but they have no regrets about their season.

The Lady Bulldogs, on a long road trip to Billings Central, fell 4-1 to a talented Lady Rams team to take second place in the state.

"Everybody left what they had on the field," head coach Lini Reading said.

The Whitefish girls suffered a rash of injuries to key players before and during the big game.

In practice just days before the trip, the Lady Bulldogs lost one of their more aggressive attackers to injury. Senior midfielder Meagan Powell suffered a broken leg, but she still traveled with the team.

In the first half of Saturday's action, the conference's leading scorer and All-State Whitefish senior forward Carly Lengstorf suffered a torn ACL and had to leave the game.

Becca Strellnauer suffered what is believed to be a concussion after she landed hard on her back, and Kylee Smith blew out an ankle. Reading said she had to play two freshman alternates off the bench — Linnaea Keane and Mackenzie Thomas.

"We thought we might have to get clearance from the hospital just to leave town," Reading joked.

Jackie Elliot had three goals for Billings Central, while Carly Lengstorf got the lone goal for Whitefish.

Reading said she thought the game turned out the way it should.

"As much as I hate to admit it, the better team won that game," she said. "They just had a little bit more team speed at every position. They were even faster than Natalie Gayner, who broke away twice but the Billings girl was able to close on her from five feet back."

Reading said she was especially proud that her seniors have been a part of four consecutive state championship teams, winning it in 2006. They played in the full allotment of 60 games over the course of those four years.

"The dissapointment of Saturday's loss will fade," she said. "They will realize their strengths and their accomplishments. We had a fun year, a great season, and the trip to Billings was great. We all went out to dinner dressed up on Halloween, and that was a great time. It's a good group of kids."

Kylee Smith, one of eight seniors on the team, said the disapointment from the game wore off on the bus ride home.

"We were bummed that we lost, but it was a good last season," she said. "We had a great year."

Whitefish 0 1 - 1

Billings C. 3 1 - 4

Billings - Jackie Elliot, 11:00; Taylor O-Toole (Elliot) 19:00; 34:00; Elliot 67:00.

Whitefish - Carly Lengstorf (Kelsey McCluskey) 36:00.

Shots on goal - Billings 8, Whitefish 3.

Goalie saves - Billlings Austin Hansen 7, Whitefish Madison Cross 11.

Corner kicks - Billings 4, Whitefish 0.

Fouls - Billings 13, Whitefish 7

Cards - Whitefish 2 yellows.