Bulldog soccer ready for new challenges

New challenges face the Whitefish boys soccer team this fall.

The back-to-back defending state champions enter the season with a mix of seasoned veterans and a corps of youthful talent. The trick will be finding a balance between the two, head coach O’Brien Byrd told the Pilot last week.

“I believe strongly in our leadership,” Byrd said. “With that leadership we will bring our youth up to the level it needs to be.

“The challenge will be demanding an awful lot from our young players without pushing them too hard. They’re going to get pushed hard, but more mentally than physically.”

Ten varsity players from the 2012 season return to the pitch, including five seniors. Captains this year are Nathan Boone, Tommy Murphy and Jon Dittman.

Byrd says his seniors have already stepped up as leaders. At last week’s practice, Murphy stopped mid action to help an underclassman improve his game.

“That’s the leadership we want,” Byrd said.

The depth of returning players will allow the Bulldogs to take their system to a new level. The team spent two hours in the classroom taking notes on Thursday, then were challenged with a 20 question pass/fail test the following day.

“We’ve got a lot to learn,” Byrd said. “Mentally, we’re going to push them.”

Whitefish will concentrate this year on passing patterns that Byrd compares to offensive football plays.

“We didn’t do that at all last year,” he said of the group that tallied more than 90 goals last season. “We’re spending a ton of time on attacking patterns.”

The Northwest A conference is shaping up to be much more competitive than last season.

Columbia Falls looks as good as they have in five seasons, and Libby could be right at the top battling for a playoff spot.

“The conference will be grueling,” Byrd said. “Columbia Falls will be a great match-up.”

Billings Central appears to be well positioned in the east, Byrd said. Whitefish topped the Rams in the 2012 title game to cap their perfect 15-0 season and extend a streak of 27 consecutive victories dating back to the 2011 season.

Byrd says the current roster doesn’t even talk about last season, the streak, or being two-time champs.

“We’re spending no time on the past at all,” he said. “These guys want to put their own unique stamp on the school.”

While last season is a distant memory, the goal remains the same — to win state.

“They can do it, but they’re going to have to push themselves,” Byrd said.

Whitefish continues with practice this week. They open the season Sept. 5 at Hamilton, then host Libby Sept. 6.