Bulldogs edge cross-valley rivals
By DAVID ERICKSON
Whitefish Pilot
It was a classic Cat-Dog match-up Tuesday night in Whitefish, and as usual, the games between these longtime cross-valley enemies were physical, emotional, and close.
In the end, both the White-fish boys and girls varsity teams escaped with wins, but the Bulldogs know that when they travel to Columbia Falls later this fall, the Wildcats will be confident, hungry and looking for revenge.
Boys
Whitefish 3, C Falls 2
The Wildcats made a second-half surge to put the Bulldogs on their heels and make the coaches nervous, but the Whitefish defense was able to hold and the Bulldogs won 3-2.
It was a tough, physical game at Smith Fields as the sun set, and the five-dozen or so spectators were treated to several beautiful offensive and defensive plays by both teams.
The Bulldogs struck right out of the gates, as Jonas Mag-stadt scored on a counterattack in the second minute off a precision assist by Preston Taylor. Matt Grindrod scored a solo net in the 15th minute, and the Bulldogs led 2-0 at halftime.
The Wildcats, however, turned up their counters a notch after halftime, and Cody Bowman sent one into the net in the 59th minute to make it 3-1. The Bulldogs had to put team captain Alex Konopatzke back as a defending-midfielder to slow down the attack.
Magstadt broke free of the Wildcat defense to get a dream one-on-one with the goalkeeper early in the second half, but he was tripped up from behind to earn a penalty-kick. He capitalized on the foul, and the Bulldogs led 3-0, although their facial expressions looked as though they were playing from behind.
The Wildcats then got within one goal after DJ Stoneman scored in the 79th minute.
The Bulldog players began to look at each other in disbelief. They were, after all, on a 19-game winning streak, and here was their arch-nemesis coming to their home field and creeping back on the scoreboard late in the game
"They surprised us," Kono-patzke later said. "We underestimated them."
The Bulldog defense held up, though, and Whitefish escaped with a victory. It was evident that the Whitefish players gained some respect for their opponents.
"We won, but it feels like we lost," head coach O'Brien Byrd said after the game. "We might have been overconfident, and relied on our accolades, or we might have let a little bit of fear take over."
Whitefish won the possession battle and out shot Columbia Falls 11-4, but they failed to convert several scoring opportunities, including all seven breakaways.
Preston Taylor had two dream one-on-ones with goalkeeper George Kimerly but lost control of the ball both times.
"It was disappointing for us," Konopatzke said. "We couldn't capitalize. They got us on our heels. We need to stay focused next time."
"They showed a lot of character coming back on us," Byrd told his team after the game. "We're going be over there, and it's going to be more dangerous with their home-town crowd."
Byrd said it's "always a mental game" playing against Columbia Falls.
"We were lucky to get a win," he said
The Bulldogs visit Polson on Thursday at 3 p.m., while the Wildcats entertain Bigfork on Saturday at 1 p.m. Both matches are Northern A contests.
Columbia Falls 0 2 — 2
Whitefish 2 1 — 3
Columbia Falls — Cody Bowman (Edgar Salcido), 53:00; DJ Stoneman, 79:00
Whitefish — Jonas Magstadt (Preston Taylor), 2:00; Matt Grindrod, 15:00; Magstadt (penalty kick), 50:00
Shots on goal — CF 4, WF 11
Corner kicks — CF 0, WF 4
Goalie saves — CF 12 (George Kimerly), WF 3 (Joe Galbraith)
Fouls — CF 4, WF 15
Cards — None
Girls
Whitefish 1, C Falls 0
The Whitefish girls looked to get their second win of the season on Tuesday, and things looked good 13 minutes into the game as Teal Gayner hit the net.
Gayner streaked past the Wildcat defense, and Kaitlyn Sleichter gave her a beautiful ground pass between three defenders. Gayner got a couple touches on the ball and then let it fly, and Cat goalkeeper Colyne Hislop never had a chance, although she stretched all the way out.
"It was really pretty," head coach Lini Reading said. "Kaitlyn put a pretty slotted ball through, it was a great angle, with great pace. It was so well executed, with such good composure."
The Bulldogs led 1-0, and that would be the final score, as both teams missed on scoring opportunities.
The Wildcats managed only four shots on goal, and two of those came on free kicks. The Lady Bulldogs had 16 shots but failed to convert on all but the Gayner net. Reading said she wants more creativity out of her offense.
Whitefish improved to 2-0 in conference play and 2-2 overall. They have been struggling to find the right combination of players after graduating 12 seniors from last year's state championship squad.
"I think we're headed in the right direction as far as finding the right combination," Reading said. "One thing I was happy with, the girls played with intensity the entire game. For the first time, I didn't have to tell the girls at halftime that we need to win every ball all over the field. They were doing that."
Reading said she also expects a better fight when they travel to Columbia Falls.
"I think the Columbia Falls team is a little stronger than they showed," she said. "I know the rivalry will be more intense next time."
Whitefish visits Polson on Thursday at 5 p.m., while Columbia Falls hosts Bigfork on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Columbia Falls 0 0 — 0
Whitefish 1 0 — 1
Whitefish — Teal Gayner (Kaitlyn Sleichter), 13:00
Shots on goal — CF 4, WF 16
Corner kicks — CF 2, WF 5
Goalie saves — CF 16 (Colyne Hislop), WF 5 (Mariah Driscoll)
Fouls — CF 6, WF 10
Cards — CF 0, WF 1 (yellow)