Playoff wins for Dawgs, C-Falls girls
WHITEFISH — Up 2-1 with a few minutes left in the first half, the Whitefish Bulldogs were looking for an insurance goal.
Goals by Chase Sabin and Riley Arendt provided that cushion and the Bulldogs (13-0) cruised to a 10-2 win over the Stevensville Yellowjackets in a boys Class A soccer first round playoff game at Smith Fields on Saturday.
“The boys played great,” Whitefish coach John Lacey said. “We started off with a goal in the second minute with takes the pressure off.”
After the half, Whitefish scored three goals in five minutes.
“Both keepers played well,” Lacey said. “We were really fortunate to come into halftime with that cushion. We played a little more free in second.”
All 20 players on the postseason roster got some playing time, with 10 of 18 field players recording a goal or an assist.
“A pretty balanced effort on our part,” Lacey said.
Whitefish will host Billings Central in a semifinal game next Saturday, time to be determined.
Stevensville 1 1 — 2
Whitefish 4 6 — 10
W — Ian Lacey (Brandon Mendoza) 2:00
W — Marvin Kimera (Sam Menicke) 26:00
S — Chance Lester 27:00
W — Chase Sabin (Kimera) 38:00
W — Riley Arendt (Josh Gunderson) 40:00
W — S. Menicke 43:00
W — Lacey (Schneider) 45:00
W — Schneider 48:00
W — Mendoza (Lacey) 58:00
W — Gabe Menicke (James Thompson) 68:00
S — Lester 74:00
W — Kimera 78:00
Frenchtown 3,
Columbia Falls 2
FRENCHTOWN — The Columbia Falls Wildcats lost in a heartbreaker to the Frenchtown Broncs in a first round game on penalty kicks.
Their season ended much the same way last year in a sudden-death penalty kick loss to Polson.
The Wildcats (7-5-1) trailed 2-0 late in the first half on penalty kicks but Simon Magg’s goal cut the deficit. Seth Hoffman tied the game at 44:00.
“It hurts,” Columbia Falls coach O’Brien Byrd said. “Gone out two years in a row on penalty kicks. I’m proud of the boys and their effort. They gave 100 percent of effort out there today. Got a little but unlucky but kudos to Frenchtown to find a way to beat us.”
Columbia Falls 1 1 — 2
Frenchtown 2 1 — 3
F — Jeff Jacobs 4:00 (PK)
F — Jacobs 26:00 (PK)
CF — Simon Magg 39:00 (PK)
CF — Seth Hoffman (Johnny Carl) 44:00
Shots on goal — Frenchtown 4, Columbia Falls 6; Goalie saves — Frenchtown 5 (Dawson Leishon), Columbia Falls 5 (Story Stemborski); Corner kicks — Frenchtown 6, Columbia Falls 6; Fouls — Frenchtown 15, Columbia Falls 14; Cards — Frenchtown 2, Columbia Falls 3.
Girls
Whitefish 4,
Missoula Loyola 2
MISSOULA — Four different players scored for the Whitefish Bulldogs in a first-round Class A playoff game against the Missoula Loyola Breakers.
Whitefish (9-4) had to contend with playing on a football field and the challenges that come with it.
“It was a challenge for us to play our traditional style but we did a good job of adjusting,” Whitefish coach Roland Benedict said. “We were more dynamic going forward.”
Whitefish led 3-1 at the half from goals by Emma Barron, Maya Lacey and Anna Cook.
Goalkeeper Sami McGrath made eight saves.
“I’d trade nine conference championships for a state title,” Benedict said. “We build for three games. We’re on a winning streak of one. Luckily next week we’ll be playing at home but I’m sure we’ll have a tough test.”
The Bulldogs have a home semifinal game versus Billings Central next Saturday.
Whitefish 3 1 — 4
Loyola 1 1 — 2
W — Emma Barron 11:00
W — Maya Lacey (Jo Brown) 20:00
L — Lexi Von Doersten 23:00
W — Anna Cook 32:00
L — Gisele Huffman (Sydney Koppang) 38:00
W — Josie Schneider (Sophie Olson) 49:00
Shots: Whitefish 17, Loyola 9. Saves: Whitefish 8 (Sami McGrath), Loyola 13 (Megan Neuman). Corner kicks: Whitefish 5, Loyola 1. Fouls: Whitefish 5, Loyola 7.
Columbia Falls 3,
Stevensville 0
COLUMBIA FALLS — Josie Windauer was unstoppable as the Columbia Falls Wildkats (12-1) shut out the Stevensville Yellowjackets in first-round Class A playoff action.
Windauer scored a goal in each half, bookends to Cheyanne Johnston-Heinz’s goal that put the Kats up 2-0 at the half. She now has 33 goals.
“Cheyanne had a great performance. She’s been a facilitator all year for the players around her,” Columbia Falls coach Thomas Clark said “Good to see her get a big goal.”
With her assist on Windauer’s second goal, her 15th assist of the year, Maddie Robison broke the school assist record that she tied last week.
“Josie steps up when she’s called upon,” Clark said. “Everyone tries to stop her. I’m proud of the whole group.”
Columbia Falls hosts No. 2 eastern seed Laurel next Saturday in a Class A semifinal match. Game time to be determined.
Stevensville 0 0 — 0
Columbia Falls 2 1 — 3
CF — Josie Windauer 11:00
CF — Cheyanne Johnston-Heinz (Windauer) 23:00
CF — Windauer (Maddie Robison) 57:00
Shots on goal — Stevensville 4, Columbia Falls 19; Goalie saves — Stevensville 9 (Mayah Marble), Columbia Falls 5 (Ave McDonald); Corner kicks — Stevensvuille 1, Columbia Falls 1; Fouls — Stevensville 6, Columbia Falls 12; Cards — None.