Boys soccer: Bulldogs blow out Frenchtown

WHITEFISH — Nathan Boone netted four goals as Whitefish blew away Frenchtown 8-0 in the semifinals of the Class A boys state soccer tournament Saturday at Smith Fields.

Whitefish (14-0-0) didn’t score until the 22nd minute, but the defending state champion Bulldogs controlled possession and began to dissect the Frenchtown (8-3-2) defense late in the first half.

“We held possession, but they were battling us tooth and nail,” Whitefish coach O’Brien Byrd said of the opening 20 minutes.

“We stepped it up in moments of the game when we needed to be clinical.”

After Iaian Cameron scored to put the Bulldogs on the board, Boone found the back of the net twice late in the first half. Boone added two more goals early in the second half and the rout was on with Whitefish leading 5-0 after 51 minutes.

“It was a wonderful performance by the team, but Nathan Boone had a special day,” Byrd said.

“He found ways to find passing lanes, ran into those passing lanes and we were able to pick our heads up and find him.”

Tommy Murphy, Sam Donaldson and Sean Janni each scored in the last 20 minutes for the Bulldogs.

“Our possession game was amazing” Byrd said.

“We kept Frenchtown at bay by keeping the ball and not wasting chances, not giving possession away cheaply. It frustrated Frenchtown. They were working their tails off chasing the ball, but couldn’t get it off of us.”

Whitefish hosts Billings Central (13-1-0) Saturday in the state championship game.

“I’m proud of the boys,” Byrd said. “Our goal was to get back to the state championship game. We had a lot of pressure with this unbeaten season on our shoulders and these young men were able to get it done.”

Billings Central defeated Stevensville (8-5-1) 4-0 in the other semifinal.

Frenchtown    0    0    —    0

Whitefish    3    5    —    8

WHITEFISH — Iaian Cameron (Curran Edland), 22:00; Nathan Boone (Tommy Murphy), 33:00; Boone (Sam Donaldson), 40:00; Boone, 46:00; Boone (Murphy), 51:00; Murphy, 61:00; Donaldson (Brandon Fuehrer), 74:00; Sean Janni (Taven Edland), 80:00

Shots on goal — Frenchtown 6, Whitefish 17. Corner kicks — Frenchtown 3, Whitefish 6. Goalie saves — Frenchtown 16 (M. Hayes), Whitefish 6 (Thomas Clark). Fouls — Frenchtown 7, Whitefish 7. Cards — Whitefish, 1 yellow.