Boys Class A soccer: Bulldogs fall to Belgrade, again
BELGRADE — The second time around with Belgrade was much like the first for Whitefish.
Belgrade beat Whitefish 3-0 on Saturday in a Class A boys semifinal soccer match.
Chris Brayton did all the scoring for the Panthers, who now advance to Saturday’s title match versus Corvallis. That match will take place in Belgrade.
Corvallis defeated Bigfork 3-1 in the other semifinal.
Belgrade (13-1-0) defeated Whitefish 3-1 back in September.
“You have to be able to put away your opportunities and we didn’t do that today,” Whitefish coach O’Brien Byrd said.
“I was real proud of the boys. They kept grinding, fighting and never gave up.”
Belgrade had 11 shots on goal to nine for Whitefish.
Corner kicks were five for Belgrade and four for Whitefish. Belgrade led 2-0 at the half.
It marked just the second time Whitefish (8-4-2) failed to score in a match this season.
Whitefish 0 0 — 0
Belgrade 2 1 — 3
BELGRADE — Chris Brayton, 2:00; Brayton (Zach Smith), 24:00; Brayton, 44:00.
Shots on goal — Whitefish 9, Belgrade 11; Goalie saves — Whitefish 8 (Sam Benkelman), Belgrade 9 (Clay Bost); Corner kicks — Whitefish 4, Belgrade 5; Fouls — Whitefish 4, Belgrade 4; Cards — Belgrade, 3 yellow
Corvallis 3, Bigfork 1
CORVALLIS — After a scoreless first half, Corvallis’ Cayden Ayers was too much for the Bigfork Vikings to handle as he netted a hat trick to lead the Blue Devils to 3-1.
Ayers first goal was answered by Bigfork’s Carson Cantrell’s unassisted finish in the 65th minute, but that’s all Bigfork would muster in the second half.
Although the Vikings held an advantage in corner kicks, Corvallis outshot Bigfork 12-8 on goal.
Vikings keeper Ben Russell came up with six saves.
The Blue Devils will face Belgrade for the state title match on Saturday in Belgrade.
Bigfork 0 1 — 1
Corvallis 0 3 — 3
BIGFORK — Carson Cantrell (unassisted), 65:00
CORVALLIS — Cayden Ayers (Emmett Semple), 59:00; Ayers (Kyle Shifflett), 72:00; Ayers (Semple), 75:00
Shots on goal — Bigfork 8, Corvallis 12. Goalie saves — Bigfork 6 (Ben Russell), Corvallis 5 (Shelby Gifford); Corner kicks — Bigfork 7, Corvallis 5. Fouls — Bigfork 5, Corvallis 7; Cards — Bigfork, 1 yellow