Lady Bulldogs good to the last shot

The Lady Bulldogs soccer team knows how to finish.

The team posted five goals against Polson on Thursday as they beat a scrappy Pirates squad 5-2.

"I like that we had five different people that scored," head coach Erin Morrison said about the conference win.

Morrison had pleaded with her team to find more quality scoring opportunities after tallying just four points in their previous two games.

The Lady 'Dogs responded to her request quickly.

Meredith Reed opened the scoring for Whitefish at the 4-minute mark with a blast from the top of the box to the upper-right corner of the goal.

Eight minutes later, Natalie Gayner knocked in a one-timer over Polson's goalie off a pass from Cherstin Ling to put Whitefish in command of the game.

"We were putting our long shots on frame," Morrison said. "The offense was clicking early."

Yet, the Pirates would fight back and eventually tie the score just before the half.

Polson cut into the lead after a free kick bounced through the 'Dogs' defense, leaving the Pirates to clean up the loose ball with an easy goal.

Ten minutes later, Polson scored the equalizer when they found an empty net after a collapse in the Bulldogs' defense.

"We let down our guard a little bit after scoring two quick goals," Morrison said. "We can't let down for the entire 80 minutes. It's something we have to work on."

In a momentum-shifting play, Megan Danczyk gave the Lady 'Dogs the lead just two minutes before halftime.

The freshman midfielder moved the ball across the penalty box to her left, bringing defenders with her, then shifted her position to boot a goal into the right side of the net.

"Danczyk's goal gave the girls confidence going into the half," Morrison said. "It was huge."

Ling tacked on another goal at the 68-minute mark in the second half to add to her two assists.

"Ling had a great game," Morrison said about the sophomore.

In the offensive play of the night, Sam Dittman crossed the ball from the right side of the field to connect with senior Megan Apple on a picture-perfect one-timer.

Apple jumped to kick the ball while it was still in flight and knocked the ball past Polson's keeper to put the game out of reach.

Whitefish next plays Columbia Falls in a conference match.

Morrison said the team will prepare for the match by working on their defensive tactics and talking about playing an entire game at the same level of intensity.

"I think we'll play a little faster and keep the tempo up more," Morrison said.

The game is at home on Sept. 24 at 5 p.m.