Bulldogs whip Cats to go 12-0

By DAVID ERICKSON - Whitefish Pilot

If one word could describe the 2007 Whitefish boys soccer season thus far, it would have to be simply "wow."

They finished the regular season undefeated by taking care of their Northern A cross-valley rival Columbia Falls 5-2 on Thursday, led by Matt Grindrod's hat trick.

It was the Bulldog's 27th straight victory dating back to last season, when they went 15-0 on their way to winning the state championship.

They are 12-0 this year, and their only close game was a 3-2 struggle against the Wildcats earlier this season. Other than that game, it has been a story of domination by the Bulldogs over any opponent that has stepped onto the field with them.

The Wildcats (2-4-1 conference, 5-5-1 overall) kept the final regular-season match interesting in the first half.

Grindrod started things off just two minutes into the game, scoring unassisted. However, Columbia Falls answered just two minutes later, as Chase Jackson scored off an assist by Edgar Salcido.

Bulldog Preston Taylor then hit the net in the 11th minute, off an assist from Shane Widdifield, but the Wildcats came right back in the 21st minute, as Chase Jackson scored his second goal off an assist by Cody Bowman to tie the game at two apiece.

Grindrod netted his second goal just before the half, but by then the Columbia Falls crowd was beginning to yowl for victory. The game began to take on the same feel as when the Wildcats gave the Bulldogs their biggest scare earlier in the season.

"We got too carried away, and put too many numbers forward," Bulldog head coach O'Brien Byrd said. "Everyone wants to score in that game, and we lost our shape in the first half."

The Bulldogs made some half-time adjustments and held the Wildcats scoreless in the second half.

"Kono (Alex Konopatzke) gained control of the midfield again," Byrd said. "He worked really hard."

Grindrod hit the back of the net for a third time off another assist from Widdifield just three minutes into the second half. Taylor then added his second goal of the day five minutes later off an assist from Travis Adams.

Grindrod performed admirably in his new role on Thursday. He was moved into the forward position to replace the injured Jonas Magstadt, the state's leading scorer.

"He's a great striker," Byrd said of Grindrod. "He had three amazing goals. He ran his legs off for the team and showed a lot of savvy. That just shows how deep our team is when a guy steps in like that."

Byrd said he's proud of the way his team played, although they had already clinched a conference title earlier in the week.

"The win meant a lot to the boys," Byrd said. "They showed a lot of character and grit."

The Bulldogs will defend their state title against Corvallis on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Smith Fields in Whitefish.

"We're our only competition right now," Byrd said. "We need to stay focused and do what we do best."

What the Bulldogs do best is win, and there should be no end to that in the immediate future.

Whitefish 3 2 — 5

Columbia Falls 2 0 — 2

Shots on goal - WF 16, CF 10

Corner kicks - WF 6, CF 3

Goalie saves - WF 4 (Joe Galbraith), CF 12 (George Kimerly)

Fouls - WF 7, CF 8

Cards - None