The Corvallis boys’ soccer team will try for back-to-back state championships on Saturday in Corvallis. They defeated Billings Central in semi final action on Saturday in Billings to advance to the state championship. That game will be at 1 o’clock at the Corvallis soccer complex.
The Blue Devils will host Belgrade, the same team they played in last year’s state championship, and the same team that handed the Blue Devils their only loss of the season. Belgrade defeated Corvallis in August, 1-0. Belgrade advanced to the state championship game with a 4-2 win over Missoula Loyola. Belgrade’s record is 12-1-1.
Billings Central is always a tough team and this match was no different. But Corvallis was prepared and took advantage of a lapse in defense early in the game to score. Cayden Ayers and Emmett Semple teamed up at four minutes to score when Semple passed to Ayers who hit the net. Central came back just three minutes later and scored when Christian Zygmond scored. The game was tied for the rest of the half with each team’s defense playing tough and hard. It was Semple who scored the winning goal at 54 minutes. Avery Walden took a corner kick and Semple found the ball and then booted it into the net for the goal. Although Billings Central kept the pressure on the Blue Devils, the Corvallis defense held them off. Billings Central took seven shots on goal but Corvallis’ Justin Catanach had five saves. Corvallis took 12 shots on goal. Billings Central’s keeper, John Healey, had six saves. Corvallis had four corner kicks and Billings Central had three.
The Hamilton girls lost to Laurel, 2-0, in semi final action in Laurel. Hamilton’s Larami Schara had seven saves. Hamilton finished their season with a record of 12-2.