Field size hurts Polson

BELGRADE - While three loses are not the way Polson head coach Jess Kittle would like to start the season, there are some very promising things that he has seen so far.

"We've only allowed four goals against us in three games," Kittle said. "I'll take that."

The Polson Pirates lost to Belgrade 1-0 last Friday on the road and then to Park High School 1-0 on Saturday in Livingston. Right now, Polson is allowing just 1.33 goals per game, which is pretty good by most standards.

"In most games, that's enough to, at least, get a tie if not a win," Kittle said. "Our defense is coming together and playing well. Now we need our offense to step up and get some points on the board."

Against Belgrade, Polson did put eight shots on goal and had their passing game working effectively, but just couldn't get the equalizer.

"We had our chances to tie the game but our timing was just a little off and we got called offsides on several good opportunities," Kittle said.

Belgrade scored in the 66th minute off of a free kick by Bill Debuse. He was able to chip it over the Polson defenders and Guilherme Ferreira was able to touch it in before the goalkeeper could get to it.

"It was just a well-timed free kick," Kittle said. "[Goalkeeper Clay Frissell] almost got to it."

Frissell was solid in goal with nine saves during the game.

The game against Park High School in Livingston provided an interesting problem for the Pirates as the field they played on was extremely skinny since it was a football field with no sidelines and soccer allows for differences in field size.

"It changes it radically," Kittle said. "You get a long thrower and send it from sideline to goalface."

That's exactly what Park did, throwing it in to their tallest player, 6'4" Clint Robbings, and he headed it in for the 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.

"This game was a very physical style," Kittle said. "There were a lot of hard hits and rough challenges for the ball."

Kittle said that on the narrow field, the team usually tries to use 6'2" junior Jon Murphy to throw the ball in near the goal but the team didn't get very many opportunities to do that.

He also said that it was a nice warm up game for when they go up to conference member Libby for a game, since they too have a narrow field.

"We're learning from the loses," Kittle said. "We hate to take loses, but if we do, we want them to be the non-conference games."

A new wrinkle has risen before conference play has gotten into full swing.

According to The Daily Interlake, Northwest A conference member Columbia Falls is forfeiting their season due to members of the varsity team violating the school's alcohol, tobacco and drug policy during a recent road tip.

That means there will be three playoff spots for four teams.

"One team is going to be left on the outside looking in," Kittle said. "You just have to beat one conference team twice to get in."

Kittle said that once you get into the playoffs it's just three straight wins to the state championship, so the team's main goal is making the postseason this year.

Polson will host Troy in a key conference matchup today at 6 p.m.