Whitefish girls knock out defending state champs Laurel en route to semifinals

With all eyes on the goal, hearts beating rapidly and pressure mounting every second, a penalty kick shootout began that would determine who would move on to the State A semifinals and whose season was over.

Laurel, the defending State A champions, kicked first and sent the state's leading scorer Mya Maack to the marker. Maack got one past Whitefish goalkeeper Norah Schmidt. Laurel hit the next shot in as did Whitefish’s Oliva Genovese and Brooke Roberts. Then it was all Schmidt, plus a Sadie Olson PK to give Whitefish the advantage. Schmidt stopped three PKs in a row to secure the first-round playoff win Saturday at Smith Fields.

When the Lady Bulldogs realized Schmidt saved the day, the team jumped with her in excitement knowing their season was still alive and they knocked off the defending state champs.

“We usually dominate games, we usually control the games and Norah (Schmidt) doesn’t get to shine,” Whitefish head coach Roland Benedict said. “I think she’s the best goalkeeper in the state, not only in the PK shootout, but in that game against Mya Maack, best goal scorer in Montana history at this level for females, she made save after save.”

“The free kick save she made top corner, top hand — kids at this level don’t make that save, it’s just unreal. She deserves a lot of credit and I’m really proud of her,” he added.

With their hearts on the line, the Bulldogs pulled out the 3-3 (3-2) overtime win.

The drama started well before the game was forced to overtime and eventually a PK shootout. Laurel went up first in the game when Darby Boehler scored off an assist from Maack in the 26th minute. The teams played out the half exchanging dangerous attacks both ways, but the score remained 1-0 Laurel leading at halftime.

In the second half, Whitefish sophomore Delaney Smith took a shot from outside the box that curved into the goal behind Laurel’s keeper to even the score in the 43rd minute. A penalty was called on the Locomotives midway through the half and Genovese scored the direct shot, giving Whitefish its first lead in the game.

The lead wouldn’t hold though as Laurel’s Maack broke through the Bulldog defense just a minute later and scored the game-tying shot.

It was 2-2 at the end of 80 minutes and the teams were ready to battle it out in overtime. In the first 10-minute OT period, Maack scored again, assisted by Boehler. That lead would hold until just a few minutes remained in the second OT period when Whitefish’s Olson scored a banger goal on a quick attack. Olson’s goal knotted the score at 3-3, setting up the PK shootout to determine the winner.

“I think our team style of play, we deserved it — kept the ball, were able to move it, make them run and it was just fantastic,” Benedict said. “It was really just the heart to get back in the game and win.”

He called out several players from the back line to the attacking forwards while reflecting on the win, stating it was a total team victory. Bulldog defender Rya Hirsch might have had the toughest task of all though, and played brilliantly.

“Rya Hirsch doing everything she can against Mya Maack, she had some clutch tackles that made things hard for her. There’s so many… it’s a team win, that’s how we play,” Benedict said.

The win over Laurel in the State A quarterfinal followed a lackluster end of the regular season for Whitefish. Over the final three games, the Bulldogs were 1-1-1, upending their undefeated record.

“If you look at our last three games it’s been a little rough, we haven’t performed very well. The team knows that, but we’ve been on a mission,” Benedict said. “They made a point after that Libby tie to make changes and start getting after it.”

Two years ago, Whitefish lost to Laurel 3-2 in overtime in the State A final making this victory just a little bit sweeter.

“It’s a credit to the team that we never led in the game (for long)… Those are special character moments (to come back in a game),” Benedict said. “Laurel’s had that in the past when they beat us in the state final… we came out on top this year.”

Whitefish now moves on to the State A semifinal round and will host Hamilton at Smith Fields on Saturday. Game time is still to be determined.

“No matter how successful we’ve been in the past, the only game that matters is this next weekend,” Benedict said. “We gained another week and that’s just impressive for the girls and the team.”

Laurel 1 1 1 0 – 3

Whitefish 0 2 0 1 – 3

Laurel – Darby Boehler (Mya Maack) 26:00

WF – Delaney Smith (Charlotte Perkins) 43:00

WF – Olivia Genovese PK 67:00

Laurel – Maack 68:00

1st OT: Laurel – Maack (Boehler)

2nd OT: WF – Sadie Olson (Maya Lacey)

Shots – Laurel 25, WF 27; Corner kicks – Laurel 6, WF 3; Goalie saves – Laurel 16, WF 13 (Norah Schmidt); Fouls – Laurel 9, WF 12.