The girls and boys Bulldog soccer teams kicked off the season at home with games against the Lockwood Lions on Friday and the Browning Indians on Saturday at Smith Fields. 

The boys won 3-1 against Lockwood, with Kyler Jonson scoring the hat trick and the team finding its legs in the first game of the season. 

Boys Head Coach Eric Sawtelle said the team was excited to play competitive matches again after a long off season. The time away resulted in some heaving touches and mistimed runs in the early minutes of the game. 

The team created good opportunities 10 minutes into the game but were thwarted by the Lockwood keeper, as well as the cross bar and goal posts. 

Jonson broke the deadlock off of a beautifully placed free kick from 22 yards out in the 25th minute. Jonson notched a second goal in the 34th minute after receiving a well-placed cross from Grayson Rembaugh. 

Sawtelle said Lockwood brought plenty of energy and physicality and it took a little time for the teams to find some rhythm. Lockwood started the second half very strong, kept possession and Lion Javier Mira scored a goal of a header in the 49th minute. 

“The goal energized Lockwood and it took a while for us to grow back into the game,” Sawtelle said. “We again generated multiple excellent opportunities through tireless runs from Jack Oehlerich and Grayson Rembaugh, but were unable to find a third goal until Kyler Jonson was fouled in the box after dribbling through multiple defenders in the 77th minute. 

“Kyler calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner to seal his well-deserved hat trick in the first game,” the coach added. 

The game was a true team effort from the Bulldogs, as everyone on the roster got playing time and, Sawtelle said, contributed positively to the team’s efforts. 

“Gavin Sibson was imperious in the backline and our new center back pairing of Will Dohmen and Quin Powers did very well,” Sawtelle said. “Our midfield had some very nice passing combinations that will get even better in time.” 

The coach said it was a very good first collective effort.  

The girls team won its game against Lockwood, 6-0, with goals scored by four Lady Bulldogs. 

The two goals in the first half belied any early season rust, as the team communicated and operated beautifully together. The team controlled possession and connected passes. 

“Junior forward Anna Boysen opened up Whitefish's scoring for 2025 in the 20th minute by putting away a cross from freshman winger Atley Bingham,” said Girls Head Coach Kelly Ordway. “After a beautiful corner from junior Delila Vine turned into a scramble, freshman Neva Sliman put away the first goal of her high school career in the 36th minute.” 

Although the teams had about the same number of free kicks, Whitefish had 27 shots on goal to the Lions’ 2. Lockwood’s goalkeeper stood out as one of the Lion’s top players. She demonstrated good decision making, speed and grit and made 17 saves for her team. 

Freshman Hayley Readon took advantage of a rare goalkeeper fumble to score 10 minutes into the second half and Barrett Clark sent in a flip throw that added to the Whitefish attack. 

“Senior midfielder Anna Guzman did a great job connecting from our defense to offense,” Ordway said. “Sophomore Jenna Kimble sent a penetrating pass through the middle that Neva Sliman finished.” 

Boysen scored her second in the 73rd minute and Atley Bingham showed patience and composure as she did some shaking and baking around several defenders to net the team’s final goal in the 89th minute. 

The goal difference rule came into play in both Browning matches Saturday, with the girls and boys reaching a 10-0 score in the first half, thus ending the game. Due to illnesses, the Browning boys team brought only nine players to the game. 

The boys and girls teams head to Columbia Falls on Thursday, Sept. 4, to meet the Wildcats. The girls play at 5 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m., under the lights at Flip Darling Memorial Field. 

    Sage Ordway defends against a Lockwood player Friday at Smith Fields. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Neva Sliman turns on the jets to pass a defender on her way to the goal during Friday's game against Lockwood. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)