Boys Soccer: Pirates clinch playoff berth

POLSON — With a 6-2 victory over Columbia Falls last Thursday,

Polson punched their ticket to the Montana state playoffs but will

duke it out in the few remaining games for seeding in the Big

Dance.

POLSON - With a 6-2 victory over Columbia Falls last Thursday, Polson punched their ticket to the Montana state playoffs but will duke it out in the few remaining games for seeding in the Big Dance.

"That was one of our main goals," Polson head coach Jess Kittle said. "We're definitely looking to clinch the No. 2 seed next week."

Behind another offensive outburst, Polson improved their record to 5-2-2 on the season and 4-2 in the Northern conference.

To date this season, three different players have recorded hat tricks (three or more goals in a game) and one player - junior James "The Lawman" Larson - has recorded two.

"This is the most goals that have been scored in my time as head coach," Kittle said. "And we still have three games to go."

Larson and senior Riley "The Leg" Lemm are both in the state's top ten for scoring and it's come from a philosophy change that has gone from a total focus on defense to a more balanced attack. Several players were moved around the field, including Lemm from playing defense to forward.

"I kind of expected that we'd generate more offense this season with the way we moved the players around," Kittle said. "We've definitely generated more offense but it affects our defense. Our ultimate goal is to get a state championship and this year I tried to get a little more rounded as a team."

The Pirates showed that well-rounded approach in their game against Columbia Falls and their ability to overcome adversity.

All season, the Pirates' defense had been anchored by senior defender Nick Howell, whose ability to shut down any loose forward from the other team is almost artful.

However, Howell had to sit out the Columbia Falls game after tendonitis flared up in his ankle.

"Nick means a whole lot," Kittle said. "He's real fast, he has amazing body control and he never fouls a guy and gets to the ball. He's a smart player and he can play any position out on that field. It's going to be sad to see him go when he graduates."

Polson defeated Columbia Falls 8-0 on their home turf earlier in the season, and even though the Pirates had to rework their defense, they still downed the Wildcats by a large margin.

"We did get a couple of goals early to put them on their heels," Kittle said.

Larson scored Polson's first goal six minutes in after Columbia Falls let a loose ball linger in front of the goal for a little too long. Freshman Alex Helgeson then got his first varsity goal after Steven Walk was able to settle the ball down out of the air in the eighth minute of the match.

Senior Caden "The Baron" von Wildenradt, who was filling in at defensive sweep for Howell, also got his first varsity goal when he deposited a penalty kick in the 21st minute.

After Columbia Falls made it 3-1 with a score of their own in the 33rd minute, Riley Lemm gave the Pirates more breathing room with a score, keyed by an assist from Jon Heutmaker in 39th minute.

In the second half, Larson launched a laser shot that hit the crossbar and bounced away from the keeper. Jon Murphy was able to put a nice touch on it and put it in the net for the 5-1 lead in the 47th minute.

Columbia Falls scored again on a penalty kick in the 58th minute, but Lemm got his second goal after getting an assist from Larson and getting it past the keeper to put the cherry on top of Polson's victory.

WHITEFISH 6, POLSON 3

Whitefish jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first half en route to a 6-3 victory over the Pirates.

With the win, the Bulldogs tied up the No. 1 seed in the conference and have yet to be beaten by a Northern A team. However, they couldn't stop a freakish scoring display by Riley Lemm.

"All three of his goals came from well outside the 18-yard box and were over the head of the keeper," Kittle said.

In what is sure to become the biggest YouTube sensation since the dramatic chipmunk, Lemm managed to score in the 64th minute, thanks to a feed by Nick Howell, as he put it over the head of Whitefish's goalkeeper.

In the 71st minute, Zach Calhoun kicked the ball from Polson's own goalbox, which came to Lemm with about three defenders around him. With approximately six inches of space to work with, Lemm took a monster shot that again went over the head of the goalie for Polson's second score.

In the 76th minute, Jon Murphy fed Lemm the ball again, and while he was still a considerable distance from the goal, Lemm bent the ball well and it cruised over the goalie's head to make it 6-3.

While Whitefish wrapped up the No. 1 seed, with Columbia Falls and Libby tying last week, Polson all but has the No. 2 seed within their grasp.

If Libby were to win the No. 2 seed, they would need to win out and Polson would have to tie or lose against Bigfork and then lose against the Loggers by at least three goals.

That means that next Saturday's homecoming game and regular-season finale against Libby has plenty of gusto attached to it.

It will more than likely be the last home game played by the Pirates this season and could have serious postseason implications.

Polson defeated Libby 6-3 earlier this year on the road.

"It comes down to getting the job done down on the field," Kittle said. "We've beaten both of these teams before [Bigfork and Libby]."

PLAYOFFS AHOY!

If you're looking to plan out your weekends for themonth

of October, here's Polson's remaining

schedule...

REGULAR SEASON

Oct. 6 - Thursday - @ Bigfork - 5 p.m.

Oct. 8 - Saturday - vs. Libby - 10 a.m.

POSTSEASON

Oct. 15 - Saturday - Quarterfinals

Oct. 22 - Saturday - Semifinals

Oct. 29 - Saturday - State Championship

WHITEFISH 6, POLSON 3

Polson - 0 - 3 - 3

Whitefish - 5 - 1 - 6

Shots on Goal - Polson 6, Whitefish 14. Keeper Saves - Polson 8 (Peregrine Frissell), Whitefish 3 (Thomas Clark 2, Chance Ling 1) Corner Kicks - Polson 3, Whitefish 5. Fouls - Polson 10, Whitefish 17.

Scoring -

Whitefish - Elior Rossi 10:00.

Mark Stormes (Rossi) 17:00.

Casey Beiser (Sam Donaldson) 24:00.

Donaldson 26:00. Rossi

(Beiser) 30:00.

Beiser (Sean Janni) 55:00.

Polson -Riley Lemm (Nick Howell) 64:00.

Riley Lemm (Zach Calhoun) 71:00.

Riley Lemm (Jon Murphy) 76:00

POLSON 6, COLUMBIA FALLS 2

Polson - 4 - 2 - 6

C-Falls - 1 - 1 - 2

Shots - Columbia Falls 4, Polson 16. Keeper Saves - Columbia Falls 10 (Mason Gedlaman), Polson 2 (Peregrine Frissell). Corner Kicks - Columbia Falls 0, Polson 1 Fouls - Columbia Falls 4, Polson 7.

Scoring -

Polson - James Larson 6:00.

Alex Helgeson (Steven Walk) 8:00.

Caden von Wildenradt (PK) 21:00.

Riley Lemm (Jon Heutmaker) 39:00.

Jon Murphy 47:00.

Riley Lemm (James Larson) 72:00