Dogs corner Cats in 6-0 win at home
Whitefish defender Jon Dittman took possession of the ball at midfield. After a few touches, he booted a pass over the Columbia Falls back line to Sam Donaldson sprinting down the far sideline. Donaldson took a touch and crossed a perfectly placed ball in front of the net for Nathan Boone who wasted no time finding the back of the net.
The play took only 15 seconds, but perfectly sums up these Bulldogs — fast, efficient and deadly accurate. It’s the formula that has equated to a perfect 8-0 record this season, including Thursday’s 6-0 romp over rival Columbia Falls.
The defending state champs haven’t lost in 20 consecutive games, a streak that dates back to Sept. 3, 2011.
“The first 25 minutes, we were undefendable,” Whitefish coach O’Brien Byrd said. “When the team plays like that you can’t contain them. We’re playing mostly with one and two touches, and springing the ball all over the field. Columbia Falls was just scrambling.”
Donaldson and Curran Edland each scored twice in the game to lead the way.
Donaldson tallied off an assist from Tommy Murphy in the ninth minute, then scored again three minutes later off an Edland assist.
Boone and Murphy added goals in the first half and Edland capped the scoring with a penalty kick in the 77th minute.
Whitefish has now topped every team in the conference once. They make the turn at the midpoint of the regular season with their eye on securing the No. 1 playoff seed. Despite posting lopsided wins all season, the Bulldogs remain motivated and focused.
“We are constantly pushing ourselves to be better,” Byrd said. “We’re not comfortable with where we are at — we know we can be better.”
The team continues to study different styles of play and refine their own formation.
“I want the guys to truly grow in the game and be open minded to new ideas,” Byrd said.
He commended the Bulldog captains for their leadership through the first round of conference games: Edland, Donaldson, Thomas Clark and Sean Janni.
“I empower them to make their own decisions on the field, and they’ve done that really well and taken a lot of ownership in the season,” Byrd said. “They’re great soccer players and exceptional people. They’re a big part of our success and they demand the best from the other players.”
Whitefish travels to Polson on Thursday and faces Columbia Falls on the road this Saturday.
Byrd is coming up on a milestone in his career as Bulldog soccer coach — 100 victories.
Thursday’s game at Polson could be his 99th win, followed by the possibility of his 100th career victory coming at Columbia Falls.
Byrd is a Columbia Falls High School graduate and began coaching Whitefish in 2002.
Columbia Falls 0 0 – 0
Whitefish 5 1 – 6
W – Sam Donaldson (Tommy Murphy), 9:00
W – Donaldson (Curran Edland), 12:00
W – Nathan Boone (Donaldson), 15:00
W – Murphy (Boone), 24:00
W – Edland (Sean Janni), 26:00
W – Edland (penalty kick), 77:00
Shots – Columbia Falls 4, Whitefish 32. Saves – Columbia Falls 9 (Mason Gedlaman), Whitefish 7 (Thomas Clark). Corner kicks – Columbia Falls 1, Whitefish 5. Total fouls – Columbia Falls 7, Whitefish 4. Yellow cards – none. Red cards – none.