Polson overpowered by Loyola, Hamilton

POLSON — It was a rough week for the Lady Pirates soccer team, suffering a 5-1 loss to Loyola Sacred Heart last Thursday and a 7-0 loss to Hamilton on Saturday at home.

POLSON — It was a rough week for the Lady Pirates soccer team, suffering a 5-1 loss to Loyola Sacred Heart last Thursday and a 7-0 loss to Hamilton on Saturday at home.

In Polson’s (1-2, 1-0) game against Loyola, head coach Michael Hewston was not pleased with his team’s play.

“I was very disappointed in the performance,” Hewston said. “The girls played flat, with little communication, did not keep their grid and failed to play as a team.”

Mikayla Schneider, who would go on to score a hat trick in the game, put Loyola up early with a goal 15 minutes into the first half.

The Lady Pirates’ Linnea Madsen was able to put the ball in back of the net off a Sarah Howell assist for the equalizer at the 21-minute mark.

Howell has been a consistent performer for Polson so far this season.

“[She] will stand out, no doubt, and she works hard and plays well with the group,” Hewston said.

However, the Breakers’ offense proved to be too much for Polson, as they rattled off three more first-half goals and another in the second to run away with the victory.

Despite a similar result, things were very much different for the Lady Pirates on Saturday according to Hewston.

“The girls played well together, and from my perspective, played the best game they could play against a skilled and superior team,” Hewston said.

The Broncs’ “superior” firepower was made apparent right from the get go, as Karissa Pfantz went down the field to score in the very first minute of play.

Pfantz and teammate Brianna Abrahamsen would go on to collect two goals apiece in the game.

Hamilton’s offense was in control of the ball for most of the game, racking up 29 shots on the Polson net.

Lady Pirates goalkeeper Monica Cleveland performed valiantly, though, collecting 16 saves in the game.

Meanwhile, Polson’s offense was unable to get anything going and put just one shot on goal on the day.

This is something Hewston said the team will need to improve upon going forward.

“Generating offense in soccer requires ball possession,” Hewston said. “We need to work on keeping the ball.”

Part of the problem for the Lady Pirates in building a stronger attack is a lack of experience.

“This is a very young team,” Hewston said. “Eight of the starting players have never played soccer at any level, let alone at this level.”

Keeping this in mind, Hewston said the two losses hasn’t swayed the team away from its goals.

“Our focus at the beginning of the season has not changed based on the outcome from our last two games,” Hewston said. “That is to focus on the basics, trust, communication and move as a group.”

The Lady Pirates will continue this mission on Sept. 13 at home against Columbia Falls, which Hewston considers to be “the best team in our conference.”

“I expect them to compete,” Hewston said of his team. “My expectations are high, that the girls will overcome their newness and just play the game we practice. If they can do that and maintain possession it will be a good game.