Polson soccer players draw all-conference, state honors

Dykstra, Eraky, Vandeberg, Browne, and Howell — those were the names selected by coaches from across Montana for outstanding performances.

Andy Dykstra and Adam Eraky finished their high school soccer careers with both All-State and All-Conference honors. Senior defender Brett Vandeberg made All-State Conference as well, and Tim Browne earned an honorable mention. Joining them was Lady Pirates defensive standout Heather Howell, who earned all-conference honors as a freshman.

Dykstra finished the season with three goals and two assists.

"We knew [Dykstra] was going to have a good year when, in the second game of the year, the Laurel coach yelled out to his team to 'mark number nine,'" head coach Jess Kittle recalled. "Andy made it his personal goal to try to get every opposing coach to yell that out."

In 12 regular season games Adam Eraky had 237 shots against him this year and only 19 got by him for goals. He also had two shut-outs and scored his first varsity goal in the final regular season game.

"[Eraky] had some amazing game-saving blocks this year," Kittle said. "The one that stands out most in my mind was the one-handed save in Libby to preserve the tie."

That game was played in very wet conditions, he said, and the ball was very slippery but with the score tied 1-1 and going into the final five minutes of the game, a Libby attacker struck a low driven ball to the lower right corner of the net and Eraky dove from out of nowhere and got one hand out and stuffed the ball straight down into the mud.

Vandeberg had four goals and one assist this year and was the leading goal scorer. According to Kittle, all the goals were scored off his left foot and Vandeberg is a right-footed player.

"He is a perfect example of why soccer players need to have skills with both feet. If he would have tried to take any of those four shots with his right foot I don't think any would have gone in," Kittle said.

Getting the honorable mention was senior defender Tim Browne. On two different occasions, Browne was able to stop shots that got by Eraky, and clear the ball before it went into the net.

"Browne had a fantastic year as our left side defender. Time and time again he was able to step up and thwart the opposing teams strong side attack," Kittle said. "His speed was great to have, because he would be able to step up and shut down the attack on that side of the field and force the other team to pass the ball before they were ready or he would just take the ball away and start our counter attack."

Howell was an aggressive and tenacious defender who led the team in the back.

"Heather Howell solidified the team in a sense. She took control of the entire defense. If it hadn't been for her, we would have probably had seven or eight goals a game against us. The other coaches were so impressed with her. She had the foot to kick upfield, and she had good field presence," said girls head coach Randy Hart. "The girl lives to play soccer. She's already in the weight room to prepare for next year."

Hart said Howell's efforts boosted the team defensively, and that she played hurt the entire season.

"She had her ankles taped most of the season. She played injured the whole season. Her attitude is phenomenal," Hart said. "She deserves all the recognition she got."

Coaches are allowed to nominate their own players, but cannot vote on them for all-conference and state selections, so all players are selected by other coaches around the league.