Pirates' postseason hopes sunk by Libby, Wildcats

COLUMBIA FALLS — The Pirates didn’t end their 2012 season the way they had hoped last week, as the team dropped its final two games and were kept out of the playoffs a year removed from making the championship game.

COLUMBIA FALLS — The Pirates didn’t end their 2012 season the way they had hoped last week, as the team dropped its final two games and were kept out of the playoffs a year removed from making the championship game.

Last Thursday, the team took on Libby in a matchup that if it had won, would have kept the Pirates’ postseason hopes alive.

However, the game started out in devastating fashion for Polson when senior Steven Walk broke his leg in the opening minutes.

The injury was surely an emotional blow to the team, but it also had major ramifications on the Pirates’ strategy.

“This forced us to make changes to our lineup and took away part of our attack to try to fill in for Steven,” head coach Jess Kittle said.

According to Kittle, the loss of Walk played a significant role in the team’s inability to produce on offense.

“We were still able to possess the ball through the midfield, but we struggled to put shots on frame,” Kittle said.

For this reason, Polson failed to find the back of the Loggers’ net a single time in the match.

The Pirates actually matched Libby with five shots on goal apiece, however the Loggers were able finish on three of theirs.

Libby’s Juan Rios scored at 12 minutes to give the Loggers a first-half lead, before Johnny Davidson and Jason Schnackenberg collected two more goals in the second for the 3-0 win.

As for Walk, according to Kittle, he was taken to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby to get his leg braced before being taken to Kalispell Regional Hospital for surgery later that evening.

Doctors inserted a titanium rod and two screws into Walk’s lower leg. According to Kittle, doctors said he will make a full recovery.

After going through the heartbreaking loss to Libby that ended their chances of making the playoffs, as well as losing one of their key players, the Pirates traveled to Columbia Falls Saturday for their final game of the year.

Unfortunately for Polson, it was dealt a similar outcome, as the team went on to fall to the Wildcats 6-2.

Kittle said the game was like many matches this season for the Pirates, in which they failed to put away shots despite good looks at the goal.

“We started out the game very well with good passing and good ball control, but again we couldn’t convert on our scoring opportunities,” Kittle said.

Gaven Thelen drew blood first for Columbia Falls, scoring at the 17-minute mark. Connor Williams added another goal at 25 minutes to put the Wildcats up 2-0 at the half.

Williams went on to score two more when all was said and done, securing the hat trick.

Columbia Falls was up 5-0 when the Pirates were finally able to get on the scoreboard, as James Larson found the back of the net at the 60-minute mark.

Larson scored again eight minutes later, but the comeback attempt was halted by the Wildcats after that.

Kittle said the loss came down to the Pirates allowing Columbia Falls to get into a rhythm.

“We let momentum swing to Columbia Falls because we didn’t score when we had the chance,” Kittle said. “We couldn’t keep the pressure on them and keep them on their heels.”

The Pirates end their season 2-8 overall with a conference record of 1-7.

They lose Larson (five goals, four assists), Walk, Kellen Hoyt, Jarrod Plant and goalkeeper Spencer Kittle to graduation as the team looks ahead to next season and tries to get back to the postseason.