It was maybe too much to ask. After all one of the Murphy’s laws of sports is that it’s tough to beat a good team three times in post season play. But that was what Corvallis had to do, defeat the Belgrade Panthers for the third time in three years for the Class A state championship in soccer. Added to the mix also, was the fact that the leading scorer for the Blue Devils, and the leading scorer in the state, was ineligible to play, Corvallis had a steep hit to climb.
From the opening possession, it was clear that Belgrade had a plan to defend Cayden Ayers, and an aggressive defensive strategy to disrupt Corvallis’ play. The tone of the game was set early in the first half when Belgrade made a shot on goal. Corvallis keeper Justin Catanach made the save but just two minutes later at 8 minutes, Belgrade’s Jordan Schlauch took advantage of Catanach and booted the goal. The chemistry of the Corvallis team was obviously off with missed passes and connections.
“We put in a couple of the younger guys at different times, trying to see who would get into the flow of the game,” he said. “Belgrade defended brilliantly from forwards all the way back to the goal keeper. For 80 minutes, they defended, more than they attacked. They disrupted us.”
Corvallis picked up their intensity midway through the first half and pushed back at Belgrade. But they were unable to break through to the goal. Every time they made a move toward the goal, Belgrade’s keeper, Clay Bost, was right there directing his team and keeping the ball away from the goal.
After the break, Belgrade again kept up the pressure on Corvallis but with Ayers having Brandon Rockwell on his back at every step, it was difficult to get a shot off. Ayers said that he only had one look in the game.
The Blue Devils only took four shots on goal in the entire match. At 61 minutes, Belgrade’s Jeffrey DeBuse fired a shot that hit the crossbar and went behind Catanach for the second goal.
Corvallis kept working and but the Belgrade defense was just too much for them. The Blue Devils had a chance at 9 minutes with a direct shot in but again, the keeper for Belgrade stopped the ball.
“I was telling these guys earlier in the season, winning one state championship isn’t normal. Only one team out of 14 gets to do it every year. They’ve won two in a row, and we’re in another championship game,” said Hagan. “That alone says everything we need to know about the caliber, the work ethic, all the characteristics about this team. They were absolutely brilliant for three years. Belgrade had a better day.”
Belgrade took the championship, 2-0.