Vals continue to make improvements,Vikes make run at end of season

By FAITH MOLDAN — Bigfork Eagle

After an 8-1 non-conference win over Frenchtown, the Bigfork Valkyrie soccer team fell to the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs 4-1 last week.

The Vals, now 0-6 in conference and 2-10 overall, played a good game according to Bigfork coach Steve Koch.

"We worked on being able to counter-attack," Koch said of the Vals' game plan against the Bulldogs.

The Vals did well on that account, keeping the score close until late in the game, but didn't match Whitefish's physical play.

Whitefish wasted no time, scoring in the second minute and again in the 14th. It was another 44 minutes until the Bulldogs found the back of the net.

While Whitefish was unable to score in those middle minutes, the Vals scored their one goal in the 50th minute. Andie Sorenson scored that goal on a deflected header. That was all the scoring the Vals, who took five shots on goal, managed as the Bulldogs came storming back to score two more goals in the 58th and 74th minute. Their last goal came on a free kick.

Whitefish took 24 shots on goal, but Bigfork keepers Charlene Miller and Quinci Paine saved 13 and 5 goals respectively.

Koch said the Vals' final step in getting a win is to get over their mental hump.

The Vals, who face the Libby Lady Loggers in their last regular-season game, had three corner kicks against Whitefish. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 6 in Libby.

Whitefish 2 2 — 4

Bigfork 0 1 — 1

WHITEFISH — Carly Lengstorf (Meredith Reed), 2:00; Megan Powell, 14:00; Lengstorf (Heather Melcer), 58:00; Kelsey McCluskey (free kick), 74:00

BIGFORK — Andie Sorenson, 50:00

Shots on goal — WF 24, BF 5

Corner kicks — WF 5, BF 3

Goalie saves — WF 4 (Mariah Driscoll), BF 18 (Charlene Miller 13, Quinci Paine 5)

Fouls — WF 9, BF 4

Cards — WF 4 (3 yellow, 1 soft red), BF 0

The Bigfork Vikings are putting their best foot forward in Northwest A boys' soccer.

The Vikes, now 3-6, 2-4, were shut out by the Whitefish Bulldogs last week 3-0, but played one of their best games, according to Bigfork coach Keith Koslosky.

"That was the best effort we'd had all year," he said. "The boys proved to themselves the level they're capable playing."

Bigfork held Whitefish scoreless for nearly the entire first half of play with outstanding play from its back line.

"Their play was incredible," Koslosky said of Garrett Pewe, Bobby Denning and Alec MacCallum. "Alec possibly played his best match. He played both sides of the ball."

The Bulldogs scored their first goal in the 33rd minute and scored again seven minutes later at the close of the first half. Bigfork's defense kicked in again and held the Bulldogs without a goal for the first 24 minutes of the second half. It was then, in the 64th minute that Whitefish scored again to make the score 3-0.

Bigfork, which took eight shots on goal, could not capitalize on either of its two corner kicks. The Vikes' keeper Levi Dockstader kept the Whitefish scoring to a minimum, recording six saves in the game. Koslosky said he was pleasantly surprised at Bigfork's numerous chances to attack with the Vikes' defensive style of play.

"We got more opportunities to attack out of it than I expected," he said.

Whitefish's keeper, Joe Galbraith, also had six saves.

The Vikes end their season on the road against Libby. Start time is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Whitefish 2 1 — 3

Bigfork 0 0 — 0

WHITEFISH — Shane Widdifield, 33:00; Preston Taylor (Patrick Jones), 40:00; Jones (Mac Adams), 64:00

Shots on goal — WF 17, BF 8

Corner kicks — WF 5, BF 2

Goalie saves — WF 6 (Joe Galbraith), BF 6 (Levi Dockstader)

Fouls — WF 14, BF 6

Cards — WF 1 (yellow), BF 0