Johnson nets three in win over state champs
Whitefish’s boys soccer team earned some redemption Friday with an impressive road win at the defending Class A champions in Livingston.
Whitefish’s Jared Johnson exploded for three goals in a 10 minute stretch in the second half to lift the Bulldogs to a 3-1 victory.
“We struggled in the first half,” Whitefish coach O’Brien Byrd said. “But we made adjustments in the second half. Then boom, boom, boom, it’s 3-0 like that.”
Park High knocked Whitefish out of the playoffs last year in the first round.
“That hurt the team last year,” Byrd said. “For them to prove themselves was fun.”
Whitefish gave up a penalty kick in the final minute for Park High’s only score.
Bulldog keeper Sam Benkleman recorded a shutout in his 70 minutes defending the net. Haven Gunderson recorded two saves for the Dogs.
Saturday, Belgrade netted a pair of goals in the first half en route to a 3-1 victory over Whitefish.
“We knew Belgrade was going to be a handful, and they were,” Byrd said. “They were the better team on Saturday.”
Down 0-2 at half, Byrd said his team responded well.
“We dominated the second half,” he said. “They couldn’t handle us, but we couldn’t put the ball away.”
Whitefish notched a 2-1 conference win Sept. 10 over Libby.
The Loggers packed it in on defense to clog up Whitefish’s scoring opportunities.
Tied 1-1 after the half, Casey Ling hit the net in the 80th minute for the game-winner.
Whitefish had 12 shots to Libby’s four.
The Bulldogs hosted Polson on Tuesday. They travel to Libby on Saturday.
Libby 1 0 — 1
Whitefish 1 1 — 2
L — Chance Moody 7’
W — Shanoah Montano 15’
W — Casey Ling 80’
Shots on goal — Libby 4, Whitefish 12. Saves — Libby 10 (Jacob Wood), Whitefish 3 (Sam Benkelman). Corner kicks — Libby 4, Whitefish 4. Fouls — Whitefish 7, Libby 0. Red cards — Whitefish, 1.
Whitefish 0 3 — 3
Livingston 0 1 — 1
WHITEFISH — Jared Johnson (Walter Sobba), 54:00; Johnson, 61:00; Johnson (Rhyan Nishiyama), 64:00.
LIVINGSTON — Tim Donahue, pk, 79:00
Shots — Whitefish 9, Livingston 7; Saves — Whitefish 7 (Sam Benkelman 5, Haven Gunderson 2), Livingston 6 (Quint Bishop); Fouls — Whitefish 2, Livingston 1; Cards — None.
Whitefish 0 1 — 1
Belgrade 2 1 — 3
WHITEFISH — Scott Marsh (Shanoah Montano), 67:00
BELGRADE — Chris Brayton (Jordan Schlauch), 16:00; Brayton (Grant Jordan), 27:00; Jordan, 57:00.
Shots on goal — Whitefish 2, Belgrade 7; Goalie saves — Whitefish 7 (Sam Benkelman), Belgrade 2 (Clay Bost); Corner kicks — Whitefish 4, Belgrade 3; Fouls — Whitefish 5, Belgrade 4; Cards — Belgrade 1 yellow.