New season, new chapter for Bulldog soccer

Bulldog soccer opens a new chapter this season with fresh faces leading the team on both the pitch and the sideline.

John Lacey takes over as head coach — replacing O’Brien Byrd, who accepted the head coaching job at Columbia Falls earlier this year. Lacey said his first week of two-a-day practices went well, despite smoke that limited some team activity.

“I’m having a blast,” he said. “I’m glad to be out on the grass again. It’s a lot of fun to be back out there.”

The last time Lacey coached was in 2002 as an assistant when the Bulldogs won the state championship.

“My last official game we walked off the field with the state trophy,” he said.

Getting the Bulldogs back to that pinnacle will take a lot of hard work, he said, with 11 seniors from last year’s team graduating.

“That leaves a lot of holes,” Lacey said. “But new kids are coming out, and that’s great.”

“I’m prepared to be surprised with some good soccer.”

Senior leadership will come from Ben Hirsch, Walter Sobba, Sam Benkelman and Casey Ling.

“Those four are stepping up for us,” Lacey said. “And there’s been some real development in our younger guys.”

He points to standout freshman Xander Burger, along with others, who can impact the team right away.

Lacey will coach an up-tempo style of soccer that centers around strong decision-making, he said.

“We have some really intelligent players,” he said. “We’ll play an attractive brand of soccer.

“We’re not going to settle for kicking and chasing. Good decisions are going to lead to goals and good soccer. It all starts with good decisions.”

Joining Lacey on the sideline are assistant coaches Sean Person, Mark Galbraith, and Christian Bitterauf.

Whitefish opens the season against Hamilton at home Aug. 28 at 2 p.m.