Whitefish girls upset top-seed Hamilton
The Lady Bulldogs always seem to rise to the occasion come playoff time — no matter where they are penciled in on the bracket.
Saturday was no different.
As a No. 3 seed, Whitefish upset top-ranked Hamilton 2-1 in the first round of the Class A state playoffs. The road win propels Whitefish into the semifinals where they next host Laurel on Saturday at Smith Fields at 2 p.m.
“We knew from playing Hamilton earlier in the season that we could compete,” Whitefish coach Wendy Farrens said. “We just had to work harder than they did. That’s what we did.”
Whitefish senior Grace Kurtz tallied in the 23 minute off a corner kick from Kellie Brown. The ball popped out in front of the goal and Kurtz buried it in the net with a single touch.
The score lifted Whitefish’s confidence.
“As soon as she scored, that shifted the momentum,” Farrens said. “You could see it.”
But the slim lead didn’t last long.
Hamilton netted the equalizer in the 36th minute on a shot from 25 yards.
Sophomore Haley Nicholson watched from the sideline as the Broncs tied it up. She had taken a hit to her face earlier in the match that left her with a sizable welt above her eye.
“As she was walking off the field, I could see the knot on her head from 75 yards away,” Farrens explained.
But trainers checked her out and cleared her to go back into the game just after Hamilton scored.
Seconds later, Nicholson tallied the game-winner.
The state’s leading scorer beat a couple defenders and found the net to give Whitefish the 2-1 advantage.
“That’s what she does, and does pretty well,” Farrens said.
The lead would hold thanks to a sold defensive performance from the Dogs’ back line.
“Our defensive line played awesome,” Farrens said. “Kess [Nelson] played an unbelievable game. She had a few game-saving stops.”
“It was such a great team effort. They all stepped it up.”
Whitefish isn’t familiar with what Laurel will bring to the semifinals, but Farrens says her team will be ready for anything.
“I know they’re a good, strong and athletic team,” she said. “But all the teams are very good at this stage of the playoffs.”
“We’ll be prepared.”
Columbia Falls will travel to Billings Central for the other semifinal match.
Whitefish 2 0 – 2
Hamilton 1 0 – 1
W – Grace Kurtz (Kellie Brown), 23:00
H – Kendal Gordon (Reilly Rostad), 36:00
W – Haley Nicholson (Anna Peterson), 36:00
Shots – Whitefish 16, Hamilton 23. Shots on goal – Whitefish 8, Hamilton 14. Saves – Whitefish 12 (Kess Nelson), Hamilton 5 (Larami Schara). Corner kicks – Whitefish 2, Hamilton 5. Total fouls – Whitefish 6, Hamilton 7. Cards – none.