Class A Soccer Whitefish boys off to Belgrade for title go

The so-called newcomer to this year’s championship weekend for Class A boys and girls soccer is upstart Whitefish.

The Bulldogs have won two playoff road matches to qualify for the boys title contest today at Belgrade. Play starts at noon.

Belgrade is in the final for the fourth-straight year and is looking to make it back-to-back titles. The Panthers finished second the other two times.

It has been Belgrade versus Corvallis for the title for three straight times until Whitefish crashed the party in 2017.

Corvallis did not qualify for postseason play this fall.

In today’s girls finale at Wendy’s Field at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, two-time defending champion Billings Central (12-0-2) entertains Laurel (13-1-1) at 11 a.m. That was the same matchup the last two years with Billings Central winning by 3-0 and 2-1 scores.

Whitefish’s journey to the final weekend of prep soccer has been a long and arduous one — regular-season trips to Billings, Laurel, Livingston and Belgrade. Now, another road test at Belgrade.

Whitefish (10-3-1) then won at Laurel in a postseason quarterfinal shootout and at Frenchtown 3-1 last weekend.

Belgrade (13-0-0) has home playoff wins over Hamilton, 4-2, and Polson, 2-0.

“Almost 4,000 miles on the bus,” Whitefish coach John Lacey said of the team’s travel thus far.

“Our fourth trip to the east side.”

Whitefish played at Belgrade in an early regular-season affair on Sept. 2, losing 2-1. Casey Schneider, with Avery Hirsch, assisting, put Whitefish on top just eight minutes into play. Jared Rockwell scored two-second half goals to give the Panthers the win.

Shots on goal were nearly even with Belgrade finishing with eight and Whitefish seven. Both teams had two corner kicks.

“Two well-matched teams,” Lacey said.

“It will be a good soccer match. We will have to make some adjustments for sure.”

Whitefish will be missing Sam Menicke, who had two yellow cards in the semifinal win at Frenchtown. He is suspended for this match.

“A couple different guys will do it,” Lacey said of replacing Menicke.

“He’s a big presence for us. We’ll miss him, but we’ve had a week to prepare.”

Whitefish will be looking for its first state championship since 2012, a 4-1 triumph over Billings Central.

The Bulldogs also won it in 2011 with a 3-0 verdict over Polson.

Whitefish has won five state titles.

“I think were ready,” Lacey said.