Bulldogs fall in playoff loss
The Bulldog boys soccer team wasn’t able to earn one more game for the year, instead falling 7-0 to powerhouse Billings Central in the first round of the playoffs Saturday.
It was a tight-fought battle early on with both teams scoreless midway through the first half when Billings’ Christian Zygmond erupted for three goals in three minutes to put Billings out in front 3-0. From there on, it was a different match.
“They forced us into mistakes by playing into their strengths,” head coach John Lacey said. “As soon as those mistakes did happen, it was kind of blood in the water. They were surgical at that point. It was 3-0 before we blinked.”
The final score was the same as when the two teams last played in September. Having already played, Lacey said the team knew what to expect, but Billings proved to be too much.
“Billings Central is a good team, we had to give them credit. We knew what we would face coming into the game and we knew it would take our best effort and even that would not necessarily give us another game,” he said.
“Playoff soccer is good teams, you’ve gotta beat the best to keep going, and I think Billings Central represents that.”
Billings led in shots on goal 23 to 15, and senior goalkeeper Marty Anderson had 7 saves.
Whitefish finishes the year with a 4-8-0 record and third place in the Northwest A conference. This was the last match for the teams’ four seniors, Anderson, Cody Brandt, Denver Dicks and Kanoa Poteet.
“They’ve had great years,” Lacey said. “I think all of our guys just on and off the field demonstrated a lot of leadership. I was really proud all four of our seniors. It was disappointing we couldn’t get them another game on Saturday.”
Despite the loss, this year was an improvement on last year, when the Dogs failed to make the playoffs, and Lacey said he sees a bright future with the team’s young talent.
“Only one team ever gets to go home completely happy at the end of the year. Our expectations for this year were to play good soccer and to grow. We want to lay a foundation for what we expect are future long playoff runs. We have the talent and the ability and the commitment. This the last year I expect we ever go one and done in the playoffs,” he said.
Whitefish 0 0 — 0
Billings Central 4 3 — 7
BC — Christian Zygmond, 18:00
BC — Zygmond (Josh Bundy), 20:00
BC — Zygmond (Bundy), 21:00
BC — Camden Elletson (Caleb Wall), 27:00
BC — Wall, 43:00
BC — Wall, 55:00
BC — Zygmond (Bundy), 58:00
Shots on goal — Whitefish 15, Billings Central 23; Goalie saves — Whitefish 7 (Marty Anderson), Billings Central 3 (Brandon Hilton); Corner kicks — Whitefish 7, Billings Central 4; Fouls — Whitefish 4, Billings Central 9; Cards — None.