Broncs push past Lady Dogs in physical game

A physical game with Hamilton started to slip away from Whitefish late in the first half.

The Lady Broncs scored two goals five minutes apart and added another 10 minutes into the second half to hand Whitefish a loss in its home opener Friday.

The Lady Dogs fell 3-1 to Hamilton.

Both teams came out battling under the smoky skies at Smith Fields, with much of the first half played at mid-field.

Hamilton eventually found a break in the Lady Dogs’ grinding defense led by an all-out effort from Lexie Carbo.

“We started off just kind of flat and Hamilton really brought the intensity,” Whitefish coach Roland Benedict said. “They like contact, and they’re big and fast. We didn’t play any soccer, at all. We were off our game.”

“Lexie kept us in it. She did everything she could.”

Whitefish regrouped in the second half and found some momentum to build on going forward into this week.

“In the second half we pinned them back into their half, mostly through effort and matching their physicality,” Benedict said. “We grabbed and pulled our way back.”

Whitefish had two goals called back for offsides in the second half.

Emily Buckmaster finally broke through for Whitefish’s lone goal in the 83rd minute.

The Dogs next host Libby at home on Thursday, then travel to Corvallis on Saturday.

Benedict said the girls need to relax and “just play soccer” to have success.

“The girls are thinking too much — just play,” he said.

Hamilton 2 1 — 3

Whitefish 0 1 — 1

Hamilton — Olivia Zepeda, 33:00

Hamilton — Reilley Rostad (Zepeda), 38:00

Hamilton — Rostad, 50:00

Whitefish — Emily Buckmaster (Haley Nicholson), 83:00

Shots on goal — Hamilton 12, Whitefish 11; Goalie saves — Hamilton 7 (Daylie Duce), Whitefish 9 (Kess Nelson); Corner kicks — NA; Fouls — Hamilton 7, Whitefish 12; Cards — None.