Patterson takes reigns of Pirates soccer
Polson's Austin Luper is one of the Pirate's key returnees for the 2020 season. (Bob Gunderson file photo)
Last season, the 2019 rendition of the Polson Pirates (4-9) advanced to the State A tournament as a third seed, but aspirations for a deeper foray into the bracket were derailed by Eastern top-seeded Locomotives of Laurel.
An injury incurred by Pirate keeper Gabe Mergenthaler shifted Kaden Nelson from striker to defending the box, depriving Polson of one of its prime offensive weapons.
The 2019 Pirates (17g13a) graduated a pair of seasoned seniors in twice all-conference (1st-tm) mid Davis Smith (prep career: 4g6a,1kfpm+jv2g1a) and all-conference (hm) keeper Gabe Mergenthaler (>60sv).
Though the Pirates scored less than the number of goals netted the preceding season, returnees account for a significant swath of last season’s offensive firepower among the eightieth percentile.
Among those infusing the current roster include senior defenders Zevan Walker along with all-conference (2nd-tm) Austin Luper (2019:2g) and junior forward Kaden Nelson (2019:8g3a). Other returnees who facilitated further feats of footwork finesse include Elijah Taylor (1g1a), Tray Lichtenberg (1g4a), Jack Colton (2a) among others.
Pirate soccer embarks upon a new era as Paul Patterson takes over the helm after the five season tenure of Adam Fansher, whose cumulative record (42-21-4) includes 2018 State A runnerup, a tandem of Northern A crowns (2015,2017) and two seconds. The Pirates advanced to the playoffs each season under Fansher.
Patterson most recently was head coach of AA Helena Capital the past five seasons when the Bruins made back-to-back AA playoff appearances, advancing as deep as the semifinal last season on their way to an 11-5-1 record. Mike Marchetti assumes assistant coaching duties. The two coaches played together on an international team in Tokyo in the late 1970s. Patterson is optimistic about the prospects for the Pirates this season.
“The players we have are committed to each other, which is an important component,” Patterson said.
The Pirates are slated to open the 2020 season at home on Tuesday, Sept. 1, as they face the visiting Stevensville Yellowjackets.
Given the uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schedules may be subject to modification.
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.