Polson boys get off to tough start
<p>Jonah Kasnitz (right), shown battling a Belgrade defender for the ball, leads Polson in scoring.</p>
POLSON — Three home games to open the season didn’t result in the home-field advantage that Jess Kittle and Polson’s boys soccer team were hoping for.
Following a 3-1 Friday loss to Belgrade and a 2-0 loss to Park on Saturday, the Pirates are still without a win in 2013.
That is not to say that the boys aren’t improving, though.
“Even though we lost this game, I feel like this is the best game we have played so far this season,” Kittle said. “We have improved each time we set foot on the field this year, and I am confident we will break into the win column soon.”
Kittle said the Park game was his team’s best defensive performance to date.
“I really like how Jaben Wenzel, Dylan Moll and Sutton Kanta played on defense,” he said.
The Pirates need to find some balance on offense. Last year’s leading scorer, Jonah Kasnitz, has scored both of the team’s goals thus far, and the loss of freshman Ben Rivers to a broken arm only complicates matters.
Kittle has already tinkered with the formation and starting lineup and seen marked improvements.
”In the last two games, our midfield has done a better job of passing and possessing,” Kittle said.
The defensive unit, though, is still gelling.
“We need to work on getting our defense more comfortable with the new formation and working together,” Kittle said.
Luckily, Kittle has another non-conference game on Saturday in Hamilton to figure out some of the problems. After that, the road is paved entirely with conference contests.