Lady Bulldogs record fourth-consecutive shutout

The Lady Bulldogs' opponents would be happy just to get a shot on goal, much less actually having one hit the net.

Whitefish's girls soccer team extended their shutout streak to four games last week, including matches against conference foes Columbia Falls and Polson. The 'Dogs blanked the Wildkats 3-0 on Thursday, then held the Lady Pirates to zero shots on goal Saturday in a 5-0 win. Whitefish improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the league.

"The defense is playing so smart," Whitefish coach Erin Morrison said. "They're not stabbing at the ball, they know when to clear it, and they have composure. They don't even talk to each other, and they know where to go with the ball. That's what I'm most proud of."

Senior stopper Jordan Carper, junior sweeper Mackenzie Thomas, fullbacks Karissa DeMarco and Maggie Frankino, and keepers Callie Marsh and Madison Cross make up the starting defensive unit.

"I love having those girls behind me," Carper said after holding a tough Columbia Falls team scoreless. "They're a solid wall. Sometimes we just click and today we did."

Carper said the shutouts are a direct product of the hard work they've put in at practice and in the pre-season.

"We're working our butts off," Carper said. "Coach works us super hard. We've shut out the conference so far, and I'm already looking to face Billings Central again since they're the only team to beat us."

Against a tough Columbia Falls squad, Whitefish jumped out to an early lead when Natalie Gayner put in a loose ball after a corner kick in the fourth minute. With three defenders on her, Gayner hit the ball with her left foot to the upper right corner past the 'Kats' diving keeper.

"The first five minutes determines the game," Morrison said. "A lot of our goals have come in the first five minutes, and that's exactly what I want."

Caroline Carbo followed with a goal in the 34th minute. After a defensive stop by Linnaea Keane, Gayner took the ball up the pitch toward the goal. Carbo ran in pursuit and found a loose ball in front of the net, where she put it away in the upper right corner.

Presley Pritchard capped the scoring when she cleaned up Gayner's shot attempt in the 51st minute.

"Presley waited and ran onto the ball," Morrison said. "We have to follow it every time for those opportunities."

In the Polson game, it took the offense the first half to get rolling.

Senior Charlotte Kamarath booted a goal from 25 yards out to the left post in the 29th minute to put Whitefish up 1-0 going into halftime. Then the offensive floodgates opened.

Sam Dittman scored two minutes into the second half to put Whitefish up 2-0.

"Sam's goal, once that hit, they just kept coming," Morisson said. "She got us going. It was her first time at forward."

Gayner followed with a goal to the right post in the 65th minute.

With Whitefish continuing to put the pressure on late in the game, Megan Danczyk crushed a line-drive goal from the top of the box in the 77th minute. Pritchard topped off the game with a goal two minutes later when she put a beautiful ball away after dribbling past her defender.

"We got two within two minutes," Morrison said. "The girls realize we don't have to be nice, and we can take it to these teams. We can play a full 80 minutes to our highest ability."

Whitefish travels to Libby on Saturday for another conference showdown.

"We didn't beat them last year, so we have to come out hard if we want to win," Morrison said.

Columbia Falls 0 0 - 0

Whitefish 2 1 - 3

W - Natalie Gayner (Sam Dittman), 4:00

W - Caroline Carbo, 34:00

W - Presley Pritchard (Gayner), 50:00

Shots on goal - Columbia Falls 10, Whitefish 20. Saves - Columbia Falls 13 (Niesha Thompson), Whitefish 4 (Callie Marsh 2, Madisen Cross 2). Corner kicks - Columbia Falls 3, Whitefish 5. Total fouls - Columbia Falls 2, Whitefish 1. Yellow cards - none. Red cards - none.

Polson 0 0 - 0

Whitefish 1 4 - 5

WF - Charlotte Kamarath, 29:00

WF - Sam Dittman 42:00

WF - Natalie Gayner, 65:00

WF - Megan Danczyk, 77:00

WF - Presley Pritchard (Dittman), 78:00

Shots on goal - P 0, WF 32; Goalie saves - P 16, WF 0; Corner kicks - P 0, WF 5; Fouls - P 2, WF 0; Cards - None