Defense leads Lady Bulldogs to two shutouts

Meredith Reed and Becca Strellnauer delivered on Homecoming night, as the Lady Bulldogs soccer team rolled to a conference win over Bigfork on Sept. 28.

The two seniors both scored in the match to lift the 'Dogs 2-0.

"It's awesome that they got the goals on senior night," coach Erin Morrison said. "Megan Apple played great defense, too."

Reed connected in the 25th minute off a pass from Sam Dittman to open the scoring.

Strellnauer found the net at the 75-minute mark when she dribbled uncontested up the field and fired on goal from the middle of the penalty box to put the ball just over the keeper's hands.

Whitefish tallied 18 shots on goal and held the Valkyries to five.

Callie Marsh started as the Lady Bulldogs goalkeeper to score the shutout.

Morrison said she was excited to see her team put together a full game and not let up the intensity level for an entire 80 minutes.

"The defense played strong," she said. "They shifted together and have really found their style."

The win pushed Whitefish to 4-1 in the conference.

Whitefish 2, Polson 0

The Lady Bulldogs scored their second consecutive shutout on Oct. 3 when they won at Polson 2-0.

"We dominated the game," Morrison said. "It was probably the best game we have played all season."

Led by defensive captain Megan Apple, the Lady 'Dogs held Polson to three shots on goal in the match.

"I've been really pleased with the play of the defense," Morrison said of their effort against the Lady Pirates.

Gayner opened the game's scoring in the 11th minute when she made an impressive first touch in the penalty box, then booted a nice hard shot into the net.

Natalie Gayner later assisted Presley Pritchard on a goal at the 38-minute mark.

"She (Gayner) has come into her own," Morrison said. "She is so fit, I can play her the entire game."

Gayner is the leading scorer for the Lady Bulldogs this season.

With the win, Whitefish moved to 5-1 in the conference and is in control of their playoff aspirations. They play Columbia Falls on Thursday and take on top-ranked Libby on Saturday.

"We are playing one game at a time," Morrison said. "We're ready and focused."