Girls soccer walks over Stevi, 2-0
After a 10-day stretch of no games due to game cancellations for COVID-19 related reasons, the Whitefish girls soccer team finally took to the pitch as they visited Stevensville last week. The Lady Bulldogs easily defeated the home team 2-0.
Whitefish settled into the game quickly and left little opportunity for the Yellowjackets. Whitefish had 37 shots with 23 of them on target according to head coach Roland Benedict. And on the contrary, the Lady Bulldogs only allowed Stevensville six shots and zero corner kicks.
“Stevensville is a big athletic team; kudos to them, they tried to play a little soccer against us,” Benedict said. “But it was within 5-7 minutes the girls got a grip of the game, dominated the ball and started creating chances.”
A first half goal from forward Brooke Roberts came in the 9th minute of play to give Whitefish the early lead. The Bulldogs kept the hammer down attacking Stevensville territory and dominating possession time.
Another Whitefish goal came in the 57th minute from Sophie Olson. Despite being the more aggressive team, Whitefish struggled to find the back of the net on numerous shots. Stevensville keeper Maya Marble made 21 saves in the game.
“Their goal keeper made 21 saves which is a combination of her being very good and a combination of us hitting some balls that were easier to save,” Benedict said. “The game could have easily been six or seven against Stevensville.”
In contrast to the last game whitefish played, a 4-4 draw against Bigfork, the Bulldogs were able to use extra training time to adjust their team structure and game model Benedict said. In that previous game, Bigfork’s athletic player Calista Wroble scored a hat trick and stumped Whitefish on the defensive matchup. Against Stevensville, the Yellowjackets team also features a star player in sophomore forward Josie Lewis, but this time the girls adjusted quickly to shut down the singular offensive threat.
“I think they came in thinking they’d get her in behind, and get her on goal — it just never happened,” Benedict said. “Maya Lacey on our backline just ate her up and we were pretty comfortable and cozy, we were not threatened at all.”
The Lady Bulldogs were set to play Bigfork on Tuesday, but that game was canceled due to poor air quality conditions. They also will visit rival Columbia Falls Thursday night at 7 p.m., in their first matchup of the season. Columbia Falls is 3-0-0 on the season and Whitefish is 2-0-1.
“Columbia Falls is the big game, it’s been us one and two in the conference for the last several years,” Benedict said. “It’s one we’re going to be gearing up for tactically and mentally, and be ready to get after them.”
Whitefish 2, Stevensville 0
Whitefish 1 1 — 2
Stevensville 0 0 — 0
W - Brooke Roberts 9:00
W - Sophie Olson 57:00
Shots on goal — Stevensville 6, Whitefish 37. Keeper saves — Stevensville 21, Whitefish 6 (Sami Galbraith); Corner kicks — Whitefish 6, Stevensville 0; Fouls — Whitefish 8, Stevensville 9.