Whitefish boys improve to 9-0 with win at Bigfork

Whitefish jumped out to a three-goal first-half lead on its way to a 3-1 Northwest A soccer victory on Thursday, September 28. The Bulldogs improved to 9-0 overall and remained undefeated in conference play.

“We started the game really strong and got some good goals while moving the ball well,” Whitefish Head Coach John Lacey said. “We really are prioritizing keeping bodies fresh right and now, and we wanted to make sure everybody came out of the game healthy, especially as it got more physical.”

Adam Healy got Whitefish on the board first with a goal in the seventh minute on an assist from Ryder Elliott. Four minutes later, Logan Bingham scored for the Bulldogs on a Jackson Dorvall assist to make the score 2-0.

In the 27th minute, Jack Oehlerich notched a goal for Whitefish, with Elliott recording his second assist of the game. That’s how the game would remain until the 79th minute when Bigfork scored its lone goal.

“Bigfork gave us a strong game,” Lacey said. “It was homecoming for them, and they gave us a strong test.”

Whitefish had nine shots to Bigfork’s four, while the Bulldogs also had nine corner kicks.

The Bulldogs will host rival and second-place Columbia Falls on Thursday, October 5, for senior night at 5 p.m. and then will play at Polson, a playoff team from last year, on Saturday at 12 p.m.

“We’re in a good spot conference-wise after defeating Columbia Falls at their place, but we obviously want to seal the deal and win a championship,” Lacey said. “We’re going to have to play our best and play sharp after a strong week of training to play at that high-level Columbia Falls demands and Polson expects us to bring.”

Lacey complimented the depth and number of quality players on the Bulldog roster, saying the goal is to build guys up for the postseason, so there isn’t a dropoff when subs come into the game.

Thursday’s game against Columbia Falls will be Senior Night, so the Bulldogs will say goodbye to 11 seniors. Lacey said it should be exciting with conference championship implications. The No. 1 seed out of the Northwestern A will get to host at home for the first two rounds of the playoffs.

“Our seniors have given a lot to this program, and we want to celebrate them and everything they’ve done,” Lacey said.

At Bigfork

WHITEFISH 3, BIGFORK 1

Whitefish - 3 - 0 - 3

Bigfork - 0 - 1 - 1

SCORING SUMMARY

W - Adam Healy goal (Ryder Elliott) 7

W - Logan Bingham goal (Jackson Dorvall) 11

W - Jack Oehlerich goal (Elliott) 27

B - Quinn Kerr 79