Boys soccer readies for playoff battle with Park High
<p>Whitefish senior defender Jon Dittman fights for position in a conference match last week against rival Columbia Falls at Smith Fields.</p>
The Whitefish boys soccer team capped their regular season with a pair of conference wins last week, shutting out Columbia Falls 3-0, and outlasted Bigfork 3-1. The two victories were more than enough to lock up a No. 1 seed in the upcoming Class A state playoffs.
Whitefish coach O’Brien Byrd said the boys are primed for a good run at a third consecutive state title.
“We’ve set ourselves up for an ideal scenario,” Byrd said. “We get to host two playoff games if we win, but we have to take care of business.”
Whitefish will face Park High of Livingston on Saturday at Smith Fields. Park is the No. 3 seed from the eastern bracket.
Whitefish topped Park High 5-1 in a match earlier in the season and knocked them out of the playoffs last year.
“They’re a very good team,” Byrd said. “They’re always physical and have a lot of size.”
Whitefish will get in four training sessions this week and will focus on handling Park’s potent offense that features three forwards.
“We haven’t seen that very much this year,” Byrd said. “We have some things to work on.”
Whitefish should be near full strength for Saturday’s match. Senior Nathan Boone is back in the line up after dealing with a shoulder injury, as are Hunter Lamoureux and Mozi Gerber.
A season-ending injury to sophomore goalkeeper Sam Benkleman could hurt the Dogs. Back-up keeper Casey Ling will be asked to step in.
Ling played his first match in goal Thursday and recorded the shutout over Columbia Falls.
“Casey was thrust into that starting spot, but the team needs him there,” Byrd said.
The Lady Bulldogs also play Park High on Saturday, which means there will be a strong contingent of Livingston fans on the sideline at Smith Fields. The girls play at noon and the boys at 2 p.m.
“That proposes a unique environment,” Byrd said. “They’ll have twice as many fans here. I’m putting a call out to the community to come out and support Bulldog soccer. We certainly don’t want them to have more fans than us.”
Libby earned the No. 2 seed and Bigfork the No. 3 seed out of the Northern A conference. Stevensville and Billings Central earned the two other No. 1 seeds.
Columbia Falls 0 0 — 0
Whitefish 2 1 — 3
W - Jon Dittman (assist Nathan Boone), 8:00
W - Tommy Murphy (Boone), 30:00
W - Boone (Dittman), 65:00
Shots on goal - Columbia Falls 8, Whitefish 22. Saves - Columbia Falls 19 (Mason Gedlaman), Whitefish 8 (Casey Ling). Corner kicks - Columbia Falls 5, Whitefish 11. Fouls - Columbia Falls 10, Whitefish 6. Yellow cards - Columbia Falls 1, Whitefish 1. Red cards - none.
Bigfork 1 0 — 1
Whitefish 1 2 — 3
BIGFORK — Kyle Thomson, pk, 38:00
WHITEFISH — Scott Marsh (Nathan Boone), 12:00; Jared Johnson (Boone), 43:00; Boone (Shanoah Montano), 74:00
Shots on goal — Bigfork 3, Whitefish 19; Corner kicks — Bigfork 1, Whitefish 12; Goalie saves — Bigfork 16 (Robert Coyle), Whitefish 2 (Casey Ling); Fouls — Bigfork 8, Whitefish 8; Cards — Whitefish, 1 yellow