Lady Pirates split last two games
Whitefish 1, Polson 0
At Whitefish on Saturday, the visiting Lady Pirates clashed with the Lady Bulldogs for a strategic edge in the conference standings with the host club prevailing by the slightest of margins. After a scoreless first half, Whitefish twice all-stater Haley Nicholson (3x all-conf), renowned for the danger posed by her foot left unattended on both gridiron (career 71PATs+6FGs) as well as pitch (career 90g26a to date), gained just enough separation from her defenders during a brief window of opportunity to ruffle the twine at the back of the net for the only score of the game.
Defensive kudos belong to Lady Pirate senior defender Alana Fox, who stuck to Nicholson like an extra shadow as she doggedly hounded her quarry during a pitbull performance that did Pirate partisans proud while eliciting an occasional whine from the Bulldog partial when this Fox climbed under their skin.
Polson was forced to fare without the services of a handful of their seasoned seniors who were sidelined on account of injuries (Ashlee Howell, Ashley Benson, Sophia Sisler, Maddie Duff) or in absentia (Hannah Kasnitz). Coach Michael Hewston framed the outcome within an optimistic context when he commented, “It’s only a one goal loss. We’re 6-2, so we’ll get them at home.”
Despite the loss, the Lady Pirates still hold a differential edge in goals against which would weigh in their favor should they prevail in their rematch. Polson (3-1, 6-2) hosts the Bigfork Vals on Thursday, September 29, then host the Kats of Columbia Falls on Saturday, October 1. A sweep of Columbia Falls would be a historic first for the Polson program as they have seldom prevailed against their northern neighbors.
Polson 0 0 – 0
Whitefish 0 1 – 1
WF – g Haley Nicholson (a Melissa Pollard) 58’
Shots (on goal) – Polson *12, Whitefish *17.
Saves – Polson *13 (Jenna Evertz), Whitefish *10 (Kess Nelson).
Corner kicks – Polson 3, Whitefish 5.
Fouls – Polson 5, Whitefish 7. Cards – None.
indivLPsh(sog) – Tiara Duford 6, Olivia Hewston 2, JaNessa Taylor, Marina Mayorga, Amber Clarke, Alana Fox.
IndivWFsh – Nicholson 8, Grace Scrafford 3, Pollard 2, Anna Cook 2, Julia Houston, Kellie Brown.
Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s): P7sh(sog),W8sh(sog); P6sv/W8sv.
Polson 3, Bigfork 0
At Bigfork last Thursday in the first installment of the annual Battle between the Bays, the visiting Lady Pirates edged the Valkyries of Bigfork.
Tiara Duford would net a hat trick for her fifth multi-goal performance of this season. The opening goal resulted from a putback in response to a ricochet that deflected off the post from a shot taken by Ashlee Howell.
Senior midfielder Amber Clarke would assist on the subsequent tandem. Val keeper Celeste Rehbein, a past Polson resident, turned in multiple mega-saves by smothering the ball, deflections and other exploits of deft displays of athleticism. Polson (6-1) has now exceeded both their cumulative goal and assist tally from last season.
Polson 1 2 – 3
Bigfork 0 0 – 0
P – g Tiara Duford (a Ashlee Howell) 1’
P – g Duford (a Amber Clarke) 53’
P – g Duford (a Am.Clarke) 71’
Shots on goal – Polson *33, Bigfork 4.
Saves – Polson 4 (Jenna Evertz), Bigfork 21 (Celeste Rehbein).
Corner kicks – Polson 7, Bigfork 1.
Fouls – P4, B2. Cards – None
indivPsh(sog) – JaNessa Taylor 8, Duford 7, Marina Mayorga 5, Alana Fox 5, Howell 3, Am.Clarke 2, Olivia Hewston 2, Aisha Clarke (1). indivBsh – Madison Gardner 2, Haile Norred 2. (Tu20Sep16)
Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s): P24sh