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FORMER POLSON Lady Pirates’ soccer player Tiara Duford signs with Rocky Mountain College, an NAIA school. During Duford’s four-year career with the Lady Pirates, she completed her career with 51 goals and 20 assists. (photo courtesy of Jess Kittle)
FORMER POLSON Pirate Tiarra Duford celebrates with her teammates after she scored a goal during last season’s Class A playoffs against Hamilton. (photo by Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
Former Polson Lady Pirates’ soccer (stand out) Tiara Duford signed a letter of intent with NAIA Rocky Mountain College.
During the 2016 campaign, Duford scored 23 goals and tied a regular season school record. Duford’s ability to manufacture goals during her high school career also earned her all-state honors in both the 2015 and 2016 season.
In her four-year career with the Lady Pirates, Duford scored 51 goals and finished with 20 assists.
Former Lady Pirates’ coach Michael Hewston, who coached Duford and her teammates since they were in 8U soccer, said she is the caliber of player that you “build your team around.
“She lives, eats and breathes soccer and she is the type of player that you can build your team around,” Hewston said. “She is an all-around team player and asset on the field for that.”
Hewston expressed confidence in her ability to make the transition from the high school to the college game.
“She will do amazing at Rocky College,” Hewston said. “She is just an amazing soccer player. She is lightning fast and determined. She will do well in college. I have no doubt.”
Hewston stated Duford was one of the main components for the Lady Pirates’ success this season.
“Soccer at the high school level is much more of a team effort,” Hewston said. “We had several players that were capable of feeding her the ball. We were able to cover everything and that really allowed her to move like that.”
Hewston recalls since her early days of soccer, Duford was always a striker.
“She’s been a striker since she was little and couldn’t decide whether to play soccer or volleyball,” Hewston recalls. “She was part of that original core group that we built a team around all of them.”
Battlin’ Bears coach Richard Duffy said he is “excited” about signing Duford.
Duford has been described several times as the type of player that you can build a team around and Duffy said he agrees with her high school coaches’ assessment. Duford will one of the bulding blocks to his team’s future, according to Duffy.
“Tiara is a great addition to our program,” Duffy said. “She is an exceptional athlete and will cause opponents problems with her work ethic and speed.”
Duford will join her new Battlin’ Bears teammates at the start the season with an alumni scrimmage on Aug. 5.