Dogs split against conference foes
Daniel McKay / Whitefish Pilot Junior Noah Romagnuolo dribbles the ball in Thursday’s 3-0 loss to Columbia Falls at Smith Fields.
The Bulldogs (3-4) split their two conference soccer matches last week, falling to Columbia Falls but coming up big with a late goal to take down Libby.
On Thursday the Wildcats (5-1-1) blanked the Bulldogs 3-0 at Smith Fields. Whitefish had nine shots on goal compared to the Wildcats’ 14, with Logan Stephens, Jon Sigurdsson and Skylar Chute all netting goals for Columbia Falls. Senior goalkeeper Marty Anderson had eight saves.
“I told them that we got beat by a good team, sometimes good goals are going to get scored against you and that’s what happened,” head coach John Lacey said. “It’s time for us to discover that extra gear for all 80 minutes, because conference play is challenging.”
On Saturday the Bulldogs traveled to Libby (2-3-1) for the conference match against the Loggers. Whitefish ended the first half with a 2-1 lead behind goals from junior Avery Hirsch and sophomore Xander Burger. Bryant Reis evened the score in the 60th minute, and the match remained tied until the 79th minute.
Freshman Casey Schneider netted the match winner off a loose ball in front of the net to take the win. The Bulldogs’ three goals on Saturday was more than the two they’d scored so far leading up to the match. The goal was Schneider’s second of the season.
The Bulldogs followed up on that win with a 2-0 victory over Stillwater Christian School on Monday. Senior Denver Dicks and junior Quinten Joos scored for Whitefish, who led Stillwater in shots on goal 18-12.
The Bulldogs host Polson (4-2) at Memorial Field Saturday for homecoming. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
Columbia Falls 2 1 — 3
Whitefish 0 0 — 0
CF—Logan Stephens (Hunter Peterson), 6:00
CF—Jon Sigurdsson, PK, 40:00
CF—Skylar Chute (Jakob Grein), 50:00
Shots on goal —Columbia Falls 14, Whitefish 9; Goalie saves—Columbia Falls 8 (Brandon Karberg), Whitefish 8 (Marty Anderson); Corner kicks—Columbia Falls 7, Whitefish 3; Fouls—Columbia Falls 5, Whitefish 10; Cards—Whitefish, 1 yellow.
Whitefish 2 1 — 3
Libby 1 1 — 2
LIB — Cody Wood (Giovanni Cano), 12:00
WF — Avery Hirsch (unassisted), 25:00
WF — Xander Burger (unassisted), 32:00
LIB — Bryant Reis (unassisted), 60:00
WF — Casey Schneider (Hirsch), 79:00
Shots on goal — Whitefish 12, Libby 10. Saves — Whitefish 6 (Marty Anderson), Libby 6 (Ryan Nagle). Corner kicks — Whitefish 3, Libby 2. Fouls — Whitefish 6, Libby 5. Cards — Yellow: Whitefish 1, Libby 1.
Whitefish 1 1 — 2
Stillwater Christian 0 0 — 0
W — Denver Dicks (Quinten Joos), 38:00
W — Joos (Avery Hirsch), 70:00
Shots on goal — Whitefish 18, Stillwater Christian 12; Goalie saves — Whitefish 10 (Marty Anderson), Stillwater Christian 11 (Zack Basnett); Corner kicks — Whitefish 3, Stillwater Christian 3; Fouls — Whitefish 7, Stillwater Christian 11; Cards — None