Whitefish standout Kyler Jonson delivered a hat trick performance to lift the Bulldogs to a 3-1 victory over Bigfork in the Class A boys soccer play-in game on October 14th. 

In this episode of Keeping Score, host Luke Schmit of the Daily Inter Lake breaks down the intense, physical match that sent Whitefish to the next round and features postgame reactions from Jonson, teammates Wyatt Carlson, Jack Oehlerich, and Gavin Sibson, plus head coach Eric Sawtelle.

Bigfork head coach Trevor Moll also joins to share his thoughts on his young team’s growth, their season of improvement, and what’s next for the Vikings. 

Kyler Jonson scored a hat trick, including a pivotal penalty kick in the 25th  minute, to lead Whitefish to a 3-1 victory over Bigfork in a Class A boys soccer play-in game on Tuesday afternoon.  

Quinn Kerr scored the first goal in the ninth minute of the match for Bigfork. Donovan Stutzman threaded a pass down the sideline to create the opportunity for Kerr to strike the ball past the Bulldogs defense, giving the Vikings early momentum.  

Nine minutes later, Jack Oehlerich found Jonson outside the box; he dribbled past the Vikings' back line and threaded a ball through the net to tie the game 1-1. 

In a physical match that featured 15 fouls, four yellow cards and one red, the Bulldogs took advantage with a penalty kick in the 25th minute. Jonson snuck the ball past the Bigfork keeper to take the lead. 

Jonson scored his final goal of the game in the 41st minute from a free kick just outside the box. He blasted a shot around Vikings defenders to increase the lead to 3-1. 

For the remaining time left in the second half, Whitefish focused on the defensive end by limiting Bigfork any opportunity's to be within striking distance. Whitefish goalkeeper Charlie Dow finished with four saves. 

Bigfork soccer coach Trevor Moll was proud of the effort this season by his team. He explains that the match started well for the Vikings, but they let their foot off the gas pedal. Bigfork has a young team, and their coach is excited for the future after playing their first playoff game together. 

Kyler Jonson explains how helpful his teammates were in his three-goal performance. He looks forward to their next matchup against Hamilton, and his confidence shows in this interview. 

Wyatt Carlson, Jack Oehlerich, and Gavin Sibson wanted to interview together and talk about their teams' aspirations. All of them discuss where their team can improve and give their opinions on the theme of the Bulldogs soccer team. 

Finally, Whitefish coach Eric Sawtelle went into this matchup with the intent of his players coming out physically and determined. They exceeded his expectations and Sawtelle was proud of the group's effort to secure the victory.  

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