The Whitefish boys soccer team notched another win when they met Bigfork last week in their first conference game of the season.  

Senior midfielder Griffin Gunlikson lit up the stat sheet with two goals and four assists in the Bulldogs’ 7-1 victory over the Vikings. He assisted on the first two goals and scored one before halftime. 

Coach Eric Sawtelle said the team had a sloppy start, struggling to connect passes and losing possession frequently. Defensively, however, they were solid. 

Preston McPherson opened the scoring in the ninth minute on a cross from Gunlikson. 

“The second goal came in the 23rd minute after a through ball from Gunlikson to the midfield workhorse Logan Bingham,” Sawtelle said. “Logan's quality of play has been impressive each game this season.” 

Bingham added one before Bigfork answered with a goal off a free kick two minutes before the half.  

In the 45th minute, Gunlikson scored to make the score 3-1 going into the break. 

“Second half we played much better soccer and worked the ball well through the midfield,” Sawtelle said. “Kyler Jonson's touch, vision and passing were excellent.” 

The second half was all Bulldogs as junior Jonson scored two in a row, the second a header off a corner kick. Gunlikson got his second and Griffin Johnson got on the score sheet when Henry Barbieri came off the bench and served a great pass to the top of the 6-yard box. 

“Elija-Adams Griffin and Justis Arterbury were tasked with defensive duties against pacey skillful opposition,” Sawtelle said. “Both were excellent all game, nullified the attacking threat and did well to contribute offensively making runs from the outside.   

“Rowan Perkins and Gavin Sibson were very solid throughout,” he added. “Overall, a very good start to our conference play.” 

The Bulldogs traveled to play the Libby Loggers on Saturday, where they had eight shots on goal in a 3-2 win. 

“Libby put up a fight on their home turf.  Their defense was compact and well organized,” Sawtelle said. “It took us a while to break them down and create opportunities. We were caught offside repeatedly early on as our runs were mistimed with our passes.” 

Ten minutes into the game, Jonson scored off a cross by Arterbury to put Whitefish ahead. Jack Oehlerich received a nice pass from McPherson to put the Bulldogs up 2-0 at halftime. 

“Libby started the second half strongly with a really nice goal in the 42nd minute,” Sawtelle said. “A long switch gave Kale Hall the space to place a very well taken shot into the upper right corner.” 

The Bulldogs answered in the 75th minute with a goal by McPherson after he pressed hard, took the ball off the goalkeeper and passed it into the net.  

Three minutes later, Libby added a goal with a far post header from a corner kick. 

“It was a scrappy win for our boys with valuable lessons learned,” Sawtelle said. “Some of our less experienced players logged important minutes on the pitch and proved they are ready to play and contribute.  

“Overall, it was not the prettiest soccer we have played but we kept possession well and worked on being patient and switching the field to create space,” he added. 

The boys team played Columbia Falls at home on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and will travel to Thompson Falls on Saturday.

    Bulldog ___ traps the ball during the game with Bigfork last week. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)