Rematch looms Saturday with only team in state to tie Whitefish

Whitefish girls win road playoff game in Belgrade (story at bottom after boys story)

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

Whitefish is not a good place to play a playoff soccer game if you aren't a Bulldog. The Hamilton Broncs found that out on Saturday, as they were eliminated from the Class A state playoffs by a hungry Whitefish team, 4-1.

Felix Hermsdorf got things started just five minutes into the game with a solo goal, then followed that up six minutes later with another goal off an assist from Federico Sau.

Matt Danczyk gave the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead in the 38th minute, and Travis Adams put another one in the net in the 53rd minute.

The two-time defending state champion Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 59-9 this year.

"I was extremely ecstatic," head coach O'Brien Byrd said. "I'm happy we're still alive. We had two guys out — Carson DePratu was sick and Patrick Jones pulled a hip-flexor. Two other guys, Ryan Rouse and Jacke Steele were both hurt. I had to put two outside backs in the game who had never started a varsity game before — Tanner Hosek and John Joern. It's a true testament to the program when you can trust the guys that you put in there to get the job done."

Hamilton's Damon Stevens snuck a goal past Whitefish keeper Joe Galbraith in the 62nd minute to avoid the shutout. Galbraith had two big saves on the day, and Whitefish defender Marc Hotzfield was all over the Hamilton attackers before they could get close to the net.

The unbeaten streak moves to 43 games, and Whitefish will now get another shot at Billings Central, the team that sullied Bulldog's undefeated streak with a 1-1 tie earlier this year.

The Whitefish boys would rather face no other opponent.

"When I told my guys that we were headed to Billings instead of Stevensville, they jumped up," Byrd said. "The guys can't wait to play 'em. It's a longer drive, but they want Billings Central big time. They're all self-motivated for this game."

Byrd said he thinks his team might play their best game of the year this Saturday.

"Last time, we came into the game with a horrible mentality," he said. "The guys know that no one is going to roll over on us now, and they have to bring their A-game. Billings is a tough team, very competitive."

The Bulldogs kick off against Billings Central at 1 p.m. this Saturday at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, rain or shine.

Hamilton 0 1 - 1

Whitefish 3 1 - 4

Hamilton — Damon Stevens, 62:00

Whitefish — Felix Hermsdorf, 5:00; Hermsdorf (Federico Sau), 11:00; Matt Danczyk, 38:00; Travis Adams (Hermsdorf), 53:00

Shots on goal — Hamilton 2, Whitefish 21

Corner kicks — Hamilton 1, Whitefish 6

Goalie saves — Hamilton 13 (Nash Johnson), Whitefish 2 (Joe Galbraith)

Fouls — Hamilton 8, Whitefish 7

Cards — Hamilton 1 yellow, Whitefish 1 yellow

By DAVID ERICKSON

Whitefish Pilot

It was a rematch of last year's state championship game, but this time the Whitefish girls decided they wanted to leave town with a win.

The Lady Bulldogs defeated Belgrade 2-1 on Saturday to advance to the second round of the state Class A soccer playoffs.

"It was pretty darn sweet," head coach Lini Reading said. "It was sweeter for the kids than it was for me. The kids realized finally that, 'Oh my gosh, this is my senior year, and this might be our last game. I don't want to be done.'"

Carly Lengstorf got Whitefish on the board first off an assist from Megan Apple in the 14th minute. Freshman Natalie Gayner scored again for the Lady Bulldogs in the 58th minute off an assist from Lengstorf.

Belgrade answered in the 65th minute as Jamie Greany got a goal by Whitefish keeper Madisen Cross, but the Lady Bulldog defense was able to hold on to the lead for the rest of the match.

"They played with a lot of heart," Reading said. "You've got to have talent, but heart means so much more. They played as a team all over."

Reading said the back-four defenders, Apple, Hayley Murphy, Kelsey McCluskey and Karissa DeMarco, played an outstanding game. Kylee Smith came back from an injury and played great for part of the game was well, Reading said.

"The back four played their most organized game of the year," Reading said. "They absolutely controlled the ball. It was more of a battle in the midfield."

Reading said that although statistics were similar for both teams on paper, it was all Bulldogs down the stretch.

"It was very, very intense," Reading said. "In the final minutes, they kept trying desperately to break our defense. We were just watching the clock and waiting for the whistle. I feel like we controlled possession."

The Lady Bulldogs play in Hamilton on Saturday at 1 p.m. to continue their quest for a state title. Whitefish knocked Hamilton out of the playoffs last year in an overtime thriller, so the Lady Broncs will surely be looking for revenge this year.

"We're excited to still be in it," Reading said. "We've got another week of practice, and we're going to go see if we can get better each and every time we go out on the field."

Whitefish 1 1 - 2

Belgrade 0 1 - 1

Whitefish — Carly Lengstorf (Megan Apple), 14:00; Natalie Gayner (Lengstorf), 58:00

Belgrade — Jamie Greany (Abby Miller), 65:00

Shots on goal — Whitefish 9, Belgrade 9

Corner kicks — Whitefish 2, Belgrade 3

Goalie saves — Whitefish 9 (Madisen Cross), Belgrade 6 (Emily Schmit)

Fouls — Whitefish 6, Belgrade 4

Cards — None