Cat-Dog III goes to Dogs

LUKE SCHMIT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 54 minutes AGO

The Whitefish Bulldogs celebrate with the Class A state championship trophy after a 2-1 win over Columbia Falls at Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Grace Sliman (9), Delila Vine (2), Jenna Kimble (17) and Millie Meyer (12) celebrate after Sliman's goal in the first half against Columbia Falls in the Class A state championship at Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Columbia Falls' June Johnston (18) directs a header toward the Whitefish goal in the first half of the Class A state championship at Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Ayla Moesher (11) defends against Columbia Falls' Onnikka Lawrence (10) in the first half of the Class A state championship at Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Jenna Kimble (17) scores a goal in the second half against Columbia Falls in the Class A state championship at Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Jenna Kimble (17) and Atley Bingham (13) celebrate after Kimble's goal in the second half against Columbia Falls in the Class A state championship at Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Whitefish's Atley Bingham (13) and Columbia Falls' Tatiana Raymond (2) battle for possession in the second half of the Class A state championship at Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

The Whitefish Bulldogs pose for a picture with the Class A state championship trophy after a 2-1 win over Columbia Falls at Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Columbia Falls' Evie Dorr (14) controls the ball with Whitefish's Atley Bingham (13) in pursuit in the first half of the Class A state championship at Smith Fields on Saturday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

WHITEFISH — Grace Sliman had quite the birthday on Saturday. A goal and a state championship will do just that.

The junior scored eight minutes into the match and Jenna Kimble added a second-half goal as Whitefish held off a late Columbia Falls push for a 2-1 victory in the Class A girls soccer championship at Smith Fields.

“To be completely honest, I don’t think it’s sunk in it yet,” Sliman said. “I’m just really excited.”

The program claimed its fourth title and it’s first since 2023, when the Bulldogs also defeated Columbia Falls 3-1. This time Whitefish had to protect a one-goal lead over the final 12 minutes as the defending champion Wildcats pressed for a late equalizer.

When the final whistle blew, senior Bulldogs defender Delila Vine knew it was the perfect ending.

“That was the best game I could have ever imagined to end my high school soccer career,” Vine said. “I’m so happy that I got to do it with these people and this team.”

Fans from both towns gathered on a chilly morning for the rivals’ third meeting of the season. Whitefish won the first match and tied the second, leaving both teams with wandering thoughts before the big day.

“I was definitely nervous, probably the whole week leading up to it,” Sliman said. “And then as soon as we were walking out, I was like, ‘We’ve played them twice this year, we can do this.’ ”

The Wildcats controlled possession early, with Evie Dorr testing Whitefish before the Bulldogs broke through.

Columbia Falls goalkeeper Medora Dahlstrom stopped a shot from Kimble, but Grace Sliman finished the rebound in the eighth minute. Kimble was credited with the assist.

“She’s been a defensive player for so long and we pushed her up a little bit more into an attacking role,” said Whitefish coach Kelly Ordway.

Sliman nearly added another goal three minutes later, sending a shot over the crossbar. Riley Byrd answered with an attempt on goal for Columbia Falls before Whitefish began spending more time in the attacking end.

Atley Bingham’s speed and dribbling challenged the Wildcat back line throughout the first half. In the 16th minute she slipped a pass to Neva Sliman inside the box, but Columbia Falls blocked the attempt.

The Bulldogs struck again eight minutes after the halftime break. Bingham drove at the Wildcats defense before dishing the ball to Kimble for the finish.

Columbia Falls kept searching for an opening, but the Whitefish counterattack helped the Bulldogs slowly drain the clock. The Wildcats found themselves with consecutive corner kicks late in the match before Riley Byrd threaded a pass to June Johnston in the box for a goal in the 68th minute.

The Wildcats had life, and the Bulldogs could feel a tense finish ahead.

“Coming back and scoring a goal and giving ourselves something to fight for with 10 minutes left was big,” Columbia Falls coach Thomas Clark said. “It says a lot about their character.”

For Whitefish, Ordway’s message was to maintain control without loose turnovers.

“We were just making sure if we have the ball, they can’t score, right?” Ordway said. “We just tried to keep it in our possession.”

In the final moments, Columbia Falls earned another corner, but Whitefish survived the pressure, and a late header went wide before clearing the ball down the field one last time.

“Ultimately, Whitefish is a really good team,” Clark said. “I don’t think they left much doubt.”

Whitefish goalkeeper Marlis Nargi was credited with 12 saves, while Dahlstrom made five for the Wildcats.

The Cats’ senior class fell one game short of repeating, closing the careers of a group that helped win the program’s second championship last season.

“They’ve been in three state championships in four years. That’s amazing,” Clark said. “And they played a lot as freshmen.”

Vine sees more opportunities ahead for the Bulldogs despite losing four seniors.

“We have so many people that are still going to be there, and I think it’s very possible that this is just the beginning for this team,” said Vine.

For Grace Sliman, another season means another year playing alongside her younger sister, Neva.

“Not a lot of people can say they’ve won a state championship with their sister, let alone play on the same team as her,” Grace Sliman said. “Honestly on the field, we can read each other’s mind.”

Columbia Falls 0 1 - 1

Whitefish 1 1 - 2

W — Grace Sliman (Jenna Kimble), 8:00

W — Jenna Kimble (Atley Bingham), 48:00

CF — June Johnston (Riley Byrd), 68:00

Shots on goal — Columbia Falls 12, Whitefish 7. Saves — Columbia Falls (Medora Dahlstrom) 5, Whitefish (Marlis Nargi) 12. Fouls — Columbia Falls 5, Whitefish 7. Corner kicks — Columbia Falls 6, Whitefish 1.