Polson soccer players garner postseason honors

Polson soccer had an octet of pitch proficient Pirate players acknowledged with postseason honors this past fall.

Pirate boys soccer

Garnering first-team acknowledgement was senior midfielder Davis Smith (2g1a), one of the captains of the Pirate squad this season. Among season highlights included a header goal off a keeper deflection after a direct kick by Tray Lichtenberg against Stevensville. Smith’s regal presence on the field extended off the field as well, exemplified by his nomination to the homecoming royal court, his crowning as homecoming king and most recently the inaugural “Today’s achievers, tommorrow’s leaders” award jointly sponsored by Kalispell Regional Healthcare and the Lake County Leader.

This was the second all-conference acknowledgement for Smith, a first-team selection last season as well.

Conferred with second-team honors was junior defender Austin Luper (2g), a key component to the Pirate defensive array.

Accentuated with all-conference honorable mention was senior goalkeeper Gabe Mergenthaler (60sv), who slammed the door in the face of multiple threats from aspiring goal scorers who walked away disapointed after many an encounter.

Lady Pirate

girls soccer

Aptly accentuated with all-state status is sophomore forward Sophia Moderie (18g6a), who finished among the top 10 in scoring statewide among Class A. Moderie tallied in nine of the baker’s dozen games Polson played this past season, including a tandem of double braces (4 goals) and a trio of conventional braces (2 goals).

This was the second all-conference acknowledgement for Moderie, a second-team pick last season.

Repeating as a second-team selection was junior keeper/defender Megan Rost (38sv), who defended the Pirate goal the first segment of the season until a broken finger incurred while attending a homecoming event precluded use of her hands the remainder of the season.

Equally adept on the field in front of the box as well as inside it, Rost made her presence felt on the pitch once her finger injury had stabilized. This was the third all-conference nomination for Rost, an honorable mention as a freshman.

Junior forward Autumn Burland 98g2a) received her first all-conference acknowledgement, a second-team selection. Burland was the second leading scorer for the Lady Pirates this season, scoring in a quintet of games that included a trio of braces (2 goals).

Junior midfielder Ali Hupka (1g2a) received a second-team nom, the third-leading scorer for the Lady Pirates this past season.

Last, but by no means the least, receiving honorable mention was junior defender Lilly Armstrong. A lockdown defender when guarding the goal, Armstrong is likewise a threat at the offensive end. This was the third all-conference selection for Armstrong.

Although not part of the Polson roster, Columbia Falls WildKat all-stater Josie Windauer (33g6a) merits mention for a local connection as the niece of local Dentist Mike Windauer of Polson Family Dentistry. The UM Griz recruit Windauer reset the Columbia Falls school record for scoring in a single season with 33 goals. This was the third all-state acknowledgement for her.

Accrued athletic accolade acknowledgements

2019 Lady Pirates – Sophia Moderie (GSC a-s, 2x a-c: 1st-tm 2019, 2nd-tm 2018), Lilly Armstrong (GSC 3x a-c: 1st-tm 2018, 2nd-tm 2017, hm 2019), Megan Rost (GSC 3x a-c: 2nd-tm 2019-18, hm 2017);

2019 Pirates – Davis Smith (BSC 2x a-c 1st-tm), Austin Luper (BSC a-c 2nd-tm, TF a-c: 4x100 6th 2019).

MHSA cumulative prep career – PIRATES: Davis Smith 4g6a(1kfpm+jv2g1a), Elijah Taylor 1g, Zevan Walker 1g, Sam Whealon 1g1a, Tray Lichtenberg 1a. LADY PIRATES: Sophia Moderie 35g12a, Autumn Burland 11g4a, Ali Hupka 9g8a, Lilly Armstrong 6a.

2019 Polson Pirates (4-9, N3-5) (+17/-32)

bsc2019 (17g13a) – Kaden Nelson 8g3a>1sv, Tray Lichtenberg 1g4a, Davis Smith 2g1a, Austin Luper 2g, Elijah Taylor 1g1a, Tristan Snyder 1g, Cade Lanier 1g, Tristan Clifford 1g>1sv, Landon Becker 2a, Jack Colton 2a, Gabe Mergenthaler >60sv.

2019 Polson Lady Pirates (4-9, N3-5) (+28/-62)

gsc2019 (28g15a) – Sophia Moderie 18g6a, Autumn Burland 8g2a, Ali Hupka 1g2a, Sarah Kinzle 1g, Tia Mercer 2a, Scout Wenzel 2a, Kyla Heiser 1a, Megan Rost 38sv>10h, Jalynn Farmer >68sv10h, Tia Mercer 34sv11h1k, Lilly Armstrong >12sv4h, Chloe Matt 1sv, Micaela Redwine 1sv. Josie Windauer (2019: 33g6a, 2018: 28g5a, 2017: 20g13a, 2016: 1g) = CF career: 82g24a

2019 Northern A Soccer

Boys All Conference

WHITEFISH – (a-s): Sam Menicke, Casey Schneider, Ian Lacey, Ian Grover Brandon Mendoza, Joshua Gunderson, Joseph Houston; (1st-tm): Gabe Menicke; (2nd-tm): Colter Upton, Chase Sabin, Marvin Kimera; (hm): James Thompson.

COLUMBIA FALLS – (a-s): Story Semborski; (1st-tm): Niels Getts; (2nd-tm): Reed Sandstrom, Johnny Carl, Tyler Hull, Jason Albin; (hm): Michael Tamburelli.

POLSON – (1st-tm): Davis Smith; (2nd-tm): Austin Luper; (hm) Gabe Mergenthaler.

BIGFORK – (2nd-tm): Benjamin Pilskalns, Baltazar Alcaraz, Chayton Troesh-Worrel;

LIBBY – (hm): Ivan Cano, Moxly Roesler-Begalke.

Girls All Conference

COLUMBIA FALLS – (a-s) Josie Windauer, Madeline Robison, Flora Jarvis, Alexis Purcell; (1st-tm): LaKia Hill; (2nd-tm): Cheyanne Johnston-Heinz; (hm): Alexis Green, Sydney Mann.

WHITEFISH – (a-s): Anna Cook, Josie Schneider, Emma Barron, Sophie Olson; (1st-tm): Sami Galbraith; (2nd-tm): Grace Benkelman, Josephine Brown, Adrienne Healy, Mary Peterson;

POLSON – (a-s): Sophia Moderie; (2nd-tm): Megan Rost, Autumn Burland, Ali Hupka; (hm): Lilly Armstrong.

BIGFORK – (2nd-tm): Brette Guenzler, Audrey Buenz.

LIBBY – (2nd-tm): Syd Gier; (hm): Isabella Kapan, Elise Erickson.

ACRONYM KEY: greater than (>), goal (g), assist (a), all-state (a-s), all-conference 1st-team (1st-tm), all-conference 2nd-team (2nd-tm), honorable mention (hm)

All-staters also share concurrent first-team affiliation

2019 Southern A Soccer

Boys

FRENCHTOWN – (a-s): Jeff Jacobs, Braydon Simpson; (1st-tm): Dawson Leishman; (2nd-tm): Cole Westrom, Dimarcus Moua; (hm): Mayson Palen.

STEVENSVILLE – (a-s): Chance Lester, Carlos Morales; (2nd-tm): Benjamin Schreiber, Oliver Post; (hm): Mathew Radford

CORVALLIS – (a-s): Caleb Warnken, Chris Gonzalez; (1st-tm): Luke Sangster; (2nd-tm): Trey Gross, Hunter Linneweh; (hm):

Ian Wilson.

HAMILTON – (a-s): Clay Kellar; (1st-tm): Ayrton Duncan; (2nd-tm): Owen Lint, Radley Robertson, Austin Drake; (hm): Austun Meis.

LOYOLA – (a-s): Danny Kaleva; (2nd-tm): Raef Konzen, Gharret Diehl; (hm): Clayton Ogilvie

Girls

HAMILTON – (a-s): Katie Frederick; (1st-tm): Morgan Brenneman; (2nd-tm): Rylee Wiediger, Lexi Brenneman, Amanda Wilson, (hm): Addie Gordon.

FRENCHTOWN – (a-s): Maddie Teagle; (2nd-tm): Lauren Demmons, Shayla Dyer; (hm): MiKayla Field.

CORVALLIS – (a-s): Haley Lords, Kailen Herbstritt; (1st-tm): Frances Carrasco; (2nd-tm): Maria Hickey, Ella Dowd; (hm): Mikayla King.

LOYOLA – (a-s): Sydney Koppang, Lani Walker; (1st-tm): McKenna Round; (2nd-tm): Anika Chavez, Erin Dahl; (hm): Megan Neuman.

STEVENSVILLE – (a-s) Ashton Lewis; (1st-tm): Evynne Alexander; (2nd-tm): Josie Lewis, Olivia Peretto; (hm): Taylor Springer.