Boys soccer held scoreless in semifinal loss

The Whitefish boys soccer season came to an end Saturday after a tough 0-3 loss at Belgrade in the State A semifinals.

Belgrade’s Chris Brayton scored a hat trick to lead the Panthers into the finals where they’ll host Corvallis next weekend.

Belgrade (13-1-0) also defeated Whitefish 3-1 back in September.

Whitefish (8-4-2) hoped for a different outcome this time around, but couldn’t convert on its opportunities at the net.

“You have to be able to put away your opportunities and we didn’t do that today,” Whitefish coach O’Brien Byrd said.

Whitefish was outshot just 9 to 11 in the match.

“I was real proud of the boys. They kept grinding, fighting and never gave up,” Byrd said.

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