Lady 'Dogs mentally, physically tough

Opposing goalkeepers beware. The 2010 Lady Bulldogs soccer club will push as many as seven players up front this season — playing in full-attack mode from the opening whistle.

"We will be attacking all the time, and teams will have trouble stopping that," Whitefish coach Erin Morrison said confidently. "I don't want to jinx us, but we'll be tough to beat."

Whitefish is led by six returning seniors, and senior exchange student Charlotte Kamrath, from Berlin, Germany. She goes by the nickname Lotti. Team captains are senior Jordan Carper, junior Sam Dittman, junior Natalie Gayner and junior Michela Millette.

Every position on the roster is strong, Morrison said, and even the bench is deep with talent. More than 25 girls came out for the first week of two-a-days, and the team features four goalkeepers.

The coach was most impressed with how fit the team looked coming into tryouts.

"They came in shape this year and that just helps everything," Morrison said. "When they're in shape, we can work more on plays and tactical stuff. They really want it this year, and you can tell they worked hard all summer."

Kamrath will likely anchor the midfield, with Presley Pritchard, Gayner and Dittman looking for scoring chances up front.

"Lotti's technical skills are unbelievable," Morrison noted. "She's really pushing the team, and the girls are bringing her into being physically fit. It's a lot of fun having her on the team."

With so much emphasis on offense, the defensive unit will have extra amounts of pressure to protect the goal. Mackenzie Thomas, Karissa DeMarco, Maggie Frankino and keeper Madisen Cross will be on the back line.

"They work really well together," Morrison said. "Madisen went to a goalie camp, and she's been playing out of her mind."

Morrison is confident about her talented defense.

"We do have offensive-minded game play, and I know defense wins games," she said. "But I think our defense can handle it, and we'll take it to these teams."

The coach is taking a hyper-focused approach to season, having the girls focus on one game, and even one half, of soccer at a time.

"When they're really focused for that 45 minutes, they're not worried about the previous half," Morrison said.

But as a coach, she's got her eye on the state title.

"I'm looking to state for sure, as a coach," she said. "But I want the players to look at one game at a time."

The early-season match with defending Class A champs Billings Central intrigues the coach who says it will be a good test for her squad.

"Our weakness last year was being mentally tough and having confidence that they can beat these teams," Morrison said. "They're growing up now, and getting that experience from state last year helps a lot. Mentally and physically, we're tough. I have very, very high expectations for this group."

Whitefish opens the season Aug. 27 at Stevensville and hosts Billings Central on Sept. 3.