Polson FC co-ed battle hard in Butte

BUTTE - The U18 Polson FC co-ed team showed signs of serious

improvement last weekend, taking on two all-boys teams and playing

them tough in Butte last Saturday.

BUTTE - The U18 Polson FC co-ed team showed signs of serious improvement last weekend, taking on two all-boys teams and playing them tough in Butte last Saturday.

During their first game against Ravalli United, a team that had beaten them 12-1 a few weeks ago in Polson, FC found themselves down 0-2 at halftime but battled back to take the 4-3 lead with just a few minutes left in the game.

"In that first game we were still learning to play together as a team," Kittle said.

While Ravalli found the equalizing goal for the 4-4 tie, Kittle was still very happy with the result.

"That was an outstanding result for us," Kittle said.

In their second game, Polson FC faced up against a tough Livingston team with plenty of players from the high school team that had beaten the Polson Pirates boys' soccer team in the regular season last year.

Using their strong passing game and controlling the ball, FC held the 2-2 tie at halftime.

"I was terrifically impressed," Kittle said. "I was real happy with how the passing game went."

Livingston would score four second-half goals for the 6-2 victory, but again Kittle was happy with his team's effort.

"We just ran out of gas in the second half," he said. "I just loved how the team gutted it out."

Kittle had praise for his midfielders, James Larson, Abretia Crandell and Reegan von Wildenradt.

"Those players were key in keeping possession and getting the ball to the scorers," Kittle said.

Over the weekend, Kenrdra Poole and Josh Lake scored their first goals of the season.

"It was just a credit to them hustling and getting to the ball," Kittle said.

Monica Cleveland also stepped in played sweeper for Polson FC over the weekend.

"I doubt I subbed her out for the entire game," Kittle said. "She just stuck with it."

Goalkeeper JC Morrison also made several critical stops over the weekend.

"She was on her game," Kittle said. "I'm real proud of the whole team."

The final six games of the team will be against divisional co-ed teams and will determine State Cup seeding in June.

Polson FC will play Lewistown and Whitehall next Saturday in Whitehall.