Lady Bulldogs win home conference opener

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

After a shaky first half, the Whitefish girls soccer team rebounded and scored three goals in the second frame to shut out Polson 4-0 on Tuesday afternoon at Smith Fields.

The victory moved the Lady Bulldogs to 4-2-0 overall and 2-0 in Northern A play.

"We did a good job of motivating ourselves before the game," head coach Lini Reading said. "But it seemed like once they got in the game and made a few mistakes, they kind of lost their composure a little bit. We got frustrated with our touches."

Reading said she's still trying to find the right combinations to put on the field.

"It wasn't bad, but we need better movement off the ball," she said. "We need girls to go to goal when they have the opportunity to."

Carly Lengstorf scored two goals, and Hannah Long and Kelsey McClusky each put one in the bucket in the second half. Whitefish out shot the Lady Pirates 18-2.

Freshman Natalie Gayner had an assist as well as a couple shots that bounced off the post.

"They regrouped well in the second half," Reading said. "We got the shutout, and we got a few goals, but there should have been more. With each day, we realize more what needs to be done."

The Lady Bulldogs take on the Columbia Falls Wildkats on Thursday on the road.

"C-Falls is always ready to play us," she said. "They've got some kids I'm real familiar with from the Europe trip. It will be a good game I'm sure."

Kickoff is at 3:30.

Polson 0 0 - 0

Whitefish 1 3 -4

Whitefish - Carly Lengstorf (Kelsey McCluskey), Hannah Long (Natalie Gayner), Lengstorf, McCluskey (Teal Gayner).

Fouls - Polson 3, Whitefish 8

Cards - Whitefish 1 (yellow)