Hanson shines in all-star game

HELENA - Peter Hanson said he wants to be a factor on the soccer field when he puts cleats on for Spokane Community College this fall.

He certainly proved to be a factor when he scored the tying goal of the Shodair Soccer Classic last Saturday at Carroll College in Helena, which is comprised of the best high school soccer seniors in the state on the Class A and AA level.

"You've got to kind of get use to the tempo," Hanson said. "It's high intensity for 90 minutes. It's what college is going to be like."

Hanson scored in the 82nd minute of the boy's All-Star game for the West All-Stars to make it 2-2 and that's how the game would end.

The East was leading after a goal in the 63rd minute before Hanson scored off a missed shot that crossed the field and he was able to come up with the ball.

"I beat the defender and wing to the ball and put it in the back of the net," he said.

The Polson High School graduate learned via letter that he had made the all-star team and jumped at the chance to showcase his skills.

According to organizers of the Shodair Soccer Classic, over 70 male and female athletes are considered for the rosters through a vigorous screening process. Both a male and female all-star game is played. Proceeds from the event go to support the Shodair Children's Hospital.

"I was really neat to play with the [all-stars]," Hanson said.

It wasn't easy though, as the East and West teams had just four practices in the week prior to the game. That meant that the game plan had to be somewhat simplified since the players had not gotten use to one another and their tendencies out on the field.

"We couldn't really work on corner kicks," Hanson said. "We didn't have the chemistry like a normal team would."

The team did get along well, as Hanson said it was nice to meet and forge friendships with players that he had played against during the high school season.

"We were all nervous to finally play the game," he said.

Once the team did get out on the field, they noticed that the East all-stars were some stout competition.

"Their defense was really scrappy so we kind of struggled scoring," Hanson said.

He said that he had made friends on the East team, but once the two teams went out on the field, it was serious business.

"Once it was gametime, the East was the enemy and you're going all out," Hanson said.

The reason Hanson was able to bang in the equalizer could be largely due to his strong work ethic.

He said that he had been training for college soccer in the fall by playing every morning at 6 a.m. for two to four hours, meaning that he was in good soccer shape for the game.

"It wasn't a dry start for me," he said.

After capping off his high school career with the all-star game, he's now turning his attention towards the future.

He said he hopes to be a big help for a Spokane Community College team that finished in fourth place last year.

"I'm really excited for college," Hanson said. "I just want to be a team player and then step up into a leadership role when I'm older."