Whitefish looks to upset Rams in soccer championship
The Whitefish girls soccer team is headed back to the Class A state championship match with its sight set on a major upset.
The Lady Bulldogs (12-2-0) smothered Frenchtown’s potent offense and used its speed up front to blow past the Lady Broncs 5-2 in a semifinal match Saturday in Whitefish.
The team will face the five-time defending champs of Billings Central (14-0-0) in the title game in Billings on Nov. 2. Central eliminated Whitefish in last year’s semifinals. They edged Hamilton 2-1 to advance to this year’s finals.
“My freshman year we made it to the state championship and it was an amazing experience,” senior captain Caroline Carbo said after Saturday’s win. “We’re so fortunate to have this opportunity again and we’re so ready for it.”
The Lady Bulldogs controlled the semifinal match from the first whistle and rarely gave Frenchtown a clean look at the goal.
“Everything we’ve been working on all season came together today,” Whitefish coach Wendy Farrens said. “It was an awesome team effort and it was really good and fun to see everything mesh so well today.”
Grace Kurtz put in a pair of goals two minutes apart to give Whitefish a 2-0 lead in the 17th minute. Whitefish gave up an own goal in the 25th minute, but quickly countered when Caroline Carbo scored on a direct kick.
Leading 3-1 at the break, Farrens told her team to put the game away in the second half.
Haley Nicholson responded with a shot from 15 yards out in the 42nd minute that slipped past Frenchtown keeper Keegan Wickman.
Frenchtown punched in a penalty kick in the 72nd minute, but it was too little too late.
Anna Peterson capped the scoring for Whitefish in the 78th minute.
“We really clicked today,” Kurtz said. “The offensive line was playing well off each other and had a great flow.”
The Lady Dogs owned the midfield, led by the play of Carbo, Ella Kobelt and Madison Grady.
“We were winning every 50-50 ball and keeping the intensity up,” Carbo said. “It worked to our benefit.”
Whitefish is confident going into the title game, despite facing a team that is making its sixth consecutive championship game appearance. The Rams’ front line features the state’s top scorer in Allie Lucas.
“We’re going to bring a fierce amount of intensity to Billings that they’re not going to be ready for,” Kurtz said with confidence.
“Another week of hard work and we’re going to bring it to Billings. I think we’re ready.”
Frenchtown 1 1 — 2
Whitefish 3 2 — 5
W - Grace Kurtz (assist Anna Peterson), 15:00
W - Kurtz (Haley Nicholson), 17:00
F - Whitefish own goal, 25:00
W - Caroline Carbo (direct kick), 29:00
W - Nicholson (unassisted), 42:00
F - Jasmine Mitchell (penalty kick), 72:00
W - Peterson (Kurtz), 78:00
Shots on goal - Frenchtown 8, Whitefish 40. Saves - Frenchtown 9 (Keegan Wickman), Whitefish 4 (Piper Greenwood). Corner kicks - Frenchtown 1, Whitefish 4. Fouls - Frenchtown 8, Whitefish 12. Yellow cards - Frenchtown 1. Red cards - none.