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Girls soccer shuts out Libby, falls to Bigfork

JULIE ENGLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 4 months AGO
by JULIE ENGLER
Julie Engler covers Whitefish City Hall and writes community features for the Whitefish Pilot. She earned master's degrees in fine arts and education from the University of Montana. She can be reached at [email protected] or 406-882-3505. | September 18, 2024 1:00 AM

The Whitefish girls soccer team lost a close, 3-1 match to Bigfork last week. Delaney Smith scored for the Bulldogs in the fourth minute on an assist from Sadie Olson.

Whitefish girls had 27 shots on goal and committed only six fouls in the hard-fought game. 

Bigfork’s Paeten Gunlock scored all three goals for the Valkyries, two in the first half and one off a penalty kick in the 60th minute. 

Lady Bulldog keeper Jackie Solem was stellar and made 19 saves. 

The Lady Bulldogs traveled to Libby to play the Loggers on Saturday and came away with a 4-0 shutout win. 

Olson scored for Whitefish early and Smith added one before halftime.  

“The game started slow but built up to connecting well,” Coach Kelly Ordway said. “Defense was steady.” 

Sophomores Anna Boysen and Mahalia Horton each scored in the second half, their first goals scored as varsity players. 

The Loggers and the Lady Bulldogs had a similar number of corner kicks in the match with Libby earning two and Whitefish three. The real difference was evident in the number of shots on goal. Whitefish shot on frame 24 times while the Loggers had just four rips. 

Libby goalkeeper Maura Mesenbrink made 19 saves on the day. 

The girls team hosted Columbia Falls on Tuesday, Sept. 17, before traveling to Thompson Falls on Saturday.

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