Pirates soccer best Laurel, Billings Central, Lady Pirates drop two
POLSON HIGH School player Bridger Wenzel defends a ball against Billings Central Cathlolic player Friday afternoon at Polson High School Stadium. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
POLSON HIGH School player Autumn Bulrand (2) positions herself to secure and move the ball upfield in their 6-0 loss to Billings Central Friday afternoon at Polson High School Stadium. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
Polson 2, Laurel 1
Visiting Laurel would strike first, but the host Pirates countered when Mack Moderie netted the equalizer during the second segment of the first half. Moderie was then fouled by the Loco goalkeeper in the box as he initiated an attack upon the net, resulting not only in a penalty kick, but also the game winning margin. Keeper Kaden Nelson turned in a stellar performance in his first varsity career start.
Polson (4-0), Laurel (2-3-1)
Laurel 1 0 – 1
Polson 1 1 – 2
L – g Layne Chelgren (a Matt Mosby) 12’
P – g Mack Moderie 28’
P – g Moderie (pk) 70’
Shots(on GOAL) – L27sh(15sog), P 17sh(12sog)
SAVES – L (Cy McMurrey 9), P (Kaden Nelson 16)
indiv sh(SOG) – R.Erickson 9(5), Moderie 6(5), Elijah Taylor (1): (hdr6’), ID?(1): (45’).
(Sa08Sep18)
Polson 3 Billings Central 2
The host Pirates jumped out to an early lead with a flurry of pitch pounding proficiency. But the visiting Rams continued to chip away at the deficit until it shrank to within a single tally of tying before Polson succeeded in closing out the contest. Mack Moderie scored a brace (2 goals) along with an assist, while Robin Erickson contributed a pair of assists, while Zevan Walker capitalized upon an opportunity to net his first varsity career goal.
The score seemed to suggest a closer contest than was actually the case despite the Pirates outshooting the Rams by almost a 4:1 margin. Eight potent scoring opportunities almost bolstered the Pirate treasure chest with further goalage, but Ram defenders strategically intercepted balls on their way to the net before they could tickle the twine. On one occasion in minute 72, Robin Erickson had beat the keeper and was one tap away from finding net. But first half keeper now in the role of defender Myles Ragar slid his body in front of the salvo to deflect it from its intended trajectory (see bottom of box).
Polson (3-0), BlgsC (0-4-1)
P – g Mack Moderie (a Robin Erickson) 3’
P – g Moderie (a R.Erickson) 16’
P – g Zevan Walker (a Moderie) 17’
BC – g Sam Dull (a Felipe Gnecco) 23’
BC – g Gabriel Penha 72’
Shots (on-GOAL) – BC *11sh(8sog), Polson *41sh(29sog)
SAVES – BC15* (Myles Ragar 8, Michael Horrell 7), P (Xavier Stalkfleet 5)
Pindiv sh(SOG) – Moderie (5), R.Erickson 16(12), Z.Walker 2(1), Nico River 5(4), Bridger Wenzel 3(2), Elijah Taylor 1, Keyan Dalbey 5(4), Tray Lichtenberg (1), Alex W-W 2, Austin Luper 1. (Fr07Sep18)
other potent Polson goal scoring opportunities: BC#29Ddefl13’ averts R.Erickson goal as well as Lichtenberg reload; Bridger Wenzel BC#29Ddefl27’. Nico River BC?Ddefl48’. Nico River xbar55’ ricochet. BC#2Ddefl67’ of R.Erickson sog. BC#24Ddefl72’ averts Robin Erickson goal; BC#2Ddefl76’ avoids potential Keyan Dalbey goal.
Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where JH stats differ from sideline specs: BC3sog/P9sog, BC6sv/P1sv
Lady Pirates challenge top-ranked Laurel, fall to Billings Central
Laurel 3, Polson 2
In a battle between two teams that share purple and gold school colors in common, the Lady Pirates hung two early goals from Ali Hupka and Ashlee Howell on defending State A champion Laurel, then sought to keep the visitor offensive engine from picking up steam. But the Lady Locomotives managed to net the equalizer followed by the go ahead goal the final ten minutes of the contest.
Polson (1-2-1), Laurel (6-0)
Laurel 0 3 – 3
Polson 2 0 – 2
P – g Ali Hupka (a Ashlee Howell) 2’
P – g Howell (a Hupka) 22’
L – g Aspen Cotter (a Morgan Maack) 27’
L – g Maeson Cotter (a Gracey Willis) 71’
L – g A.Cotter (a Willis) 76’
Shots-(on-GOAL) – L 43(26), P11(4)
SAVES – L (Mya Hansen 2), P (Kallie Finkbeiner 18)
CORNERS – L6, P0.
Pindiv sh(SOG) – Polson: Howell (1), Hupka (1), Sophia Moderie 4(0): wideL14’,wideL21’,wideL78’,over64’. Autumn Burland 2: wideL1’,wideR20’. Chloe Matt (1):(29’). Lilly Armstrong: fkover26’. Kyla Heiser (1):(41’). (Sa08Sep18)
Billings Central 6, Polson 0
Characteristic Lady Pirate footwork finesse found itself entangled by the talented toework of the visiting Lady Rams, winners of eight of the past ten State A championships. Limited Polson scoring opportunities were offset by an onslaught of offense that kept the Lady Pirates back on their heels playing defense much of the duration of the contest. Defenders Kallie Finkbeiner, Gwen Reese, Jazlyn Dalbey, Megan Rost and Grace Hobbs repelled multiple salvos that kept a lid on further visitor scoring.
Polson (1-1-1), BlgsC (5-0)
Blgs C 5 1 – 6
Polson 0 0 – 0
BC – g Chloe Paharik (a Zoie Althoff) 1’
BC – g Morgan Ferestad (a? Ava Debourg) 13’
BC – g Ferestad (a Sophia Bohl) 25’
BC – g Gabby Stock (unassisted) 30’
BC – g Ferestad (a Lauren Schwab) 33’
BC – g Ferestad (a Solie Elletson) 55’
Shots-(on-GOAL) – BC 49(36), P7(6)
SAVES – BC 4 (Hailey Euell 2, Maggie Lyle 2), P24handles(18sv) Megan Rost 8handles(7sv), Kallie Finkbeiner 17handles(11sv)
Pindiv sh(SOG) – Ashlee Howell (1):(13’). Ali Hupka 1: wideR11’ Lilly Armstrong (1):(29’). Autumn Burland (1):(42’). Sophia Moderie (2):(BC#14Ddefl47’)(58’). Kyla Heiser (1):(Ddefl78’). (Fr07Sep18)
BCindiv sh(SOG) – Ferestad 16(15): (xbar17’)(P#9Ddefl24’)(xbar69’). Althoff 9(5): (P#14Ddefl1’)(post6’)(post18’). Elletson 8(5): (P#10Ddefl71’)(xbar77a’). Bohl 2(1): (P#4Ddefl26’). Annika Varga (1): (post30’). ?ID 3(1): (P#10Ddefl60’).