'Dogs storm back, top Livingston in first round of soccer playoffs

WHITEFISH - With the season on the line once again, the Whitefish boys soccer team displayed some more grace under pressure.

The No. 1 seeded Bulldogs fell behind 1-0 early before storming back to eliminate Livingston 2-1 in the opening round of the Class A playoffs at Smith Field on Saturday.

Senior Anto Daoud tied the game with a score in a goalmouth scramble that became a shot in the arm for Whitefish. For the remainder of the game, the Bulldogs haunted Livingston's side of the field with one offensive attack after another.

The score was knotted at 1-apiece until the 56th minute when Whitefish's leading scorer and senior captain Travis Adams tore down field by himself and booted in the eventual game winner.

The clock froze in the final minutes of play as Livingston made a last-ditch effort at staying alive with a couple nerve-racking attacks at Whitefish goalie Alex Whitaker.

At one point, Whitefish coach O'Brien Byrd looked over at one of the refs and asked how much time was left as he paced along the sideline. But a few seconds later, the double whistle sounded and every coach, player and fan wearing Whitefish green and yellow jumped to their feet in celebration.

"Like I told the guys after the game, I was impressed that they fought back," Byrd said. "We had all the pressure on us. We're the home team, the number one seed. They're the underdog, and they score first. I've seen a lot of teams say 'Oh it's been a fun season,' and start making excuses in their mind. But they really dug deep and found a way to win and that's impressive. And we need a fighting spirit like that if we're going to go on any further in this tournament."

The Bulldogs have gotten used to win-or-go-home games lately after having to climb up the standings in the final month of the season.

And hasn't all this pressure gotten to Whitefish?

"No, I love it man. The pressure is great," said Daoud. "We came to play and that's what we're here to do."

"We need a fighting spirit like that if we're going to go on any further in this tournament," Byrd said.

"They proved to themselves today that they really want it ... It's great momentum. We've been on a streak now ever since that Polson game, which was I think a real turning point for us. So we're on a heckuva streak and we've got some momentum built up, who knows what could happen."

Livingston had a number of offsides calls that staggered the offense throughout the game.

"I think for us offensively we couldn't string some passes together so I think that was a big problem for us today," Livingston coach John Rinnert said. "But it was a good match. They're a good team."

Whitefish will host Corvallis, who won 2-1 in overtime over Belgrade, on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Livingston (Park High) 1 0 - 1

Whitefish 1 1 - 2

PARK HIGH - Nick Amsk, 8:00

WHITEFISH - Anto Daoud (John Reimer), 31:00; Travis Adams, 56:00

Shots on goal - Park High 3, Whitefish 13

Goalie saves - Park High 10 (Kyle Lavender), Whitefish 2 (Alex Whitaker)

Corner kicks - Park High 3, Whitefish 1

Fouls - Park High 21, Whitefish 13

Cards - Park High, yellow