Valley Christian outclassed by Dogs

By DAVID ERICKSON

Whitefish Pilot

It was David vs. Goliath on Saturday, except this time there was no upset.

The Whitefish Bulldogs boys soccer team routed Valley Christian High School of Missoula 9-0 at Smith Fields, and the game was even more lopsided than the score would indicate.

"We can't really gauge a lot from a game like that," said head coach O'Brien Byrd. "That school is in their second year in class A, and they're really struggling to get experience."

The fact that Valley Christian didn't have a single shot on goal in the whole game should say all that needs to be said about their struggles against the Bulldogs.

Byrd said that the only positive factor from the game was that some of his younger players got a lot of playing time.

"Our inexperienced players got some minutes in. I wish there was more to say," he said.

Nine different Bulldogs scored goals, with team captain Alex Konopatzke leading things off three minutes into the game, with an assist by Matt Grindrod.

From there, it was nothing but dominance by Whitefish. Tanner Hosek had a goal from a corner kick in the 20th minute.

Byrd wasn't surprised by the effectiveness of his backfield against Valley Christian.

"We have the best defense in the state," he said matter-of-factly.

The Bulldogs varsity team travels south to take on Billings Central on Friday at 6 p.m., with the girls playing at 4 p.m. They face Laurel on Saturday at 11 a.m. and the girls game is at 9 a.m.

Valley Christian 0 0 -0

Whitefish 7 2 -9

Whitefish - Konopatzke (Matt Grindrod), 3:00; Preston Taylor, 5:00; Jonas Magstadt (Taylor), 7:00; Travis Adams (Ian Hosek), 16:00;, Tanner Hosek, 20:00; Nik Ortman, 36:00; Grindrod, 39:00; Mac Adams (Magstadt), 53:00; Matt Dancyzk, 74:00

Shots on Goal - VC 0, WF 22

Corner kicks - VC 0, WF 6

Goalie saves - VC 16 (Nick Gosling 5, Sean Kinzle 11), WF 0

Total fouls - WF 0, VC 0

Cards - None