Soccer Roundup: COVID-19 case ends Lady Pirates' season

Polson’s soccer squads were slated to have already played their second round of the battle of the bays series with Bigfork for homecoming. The outcome of both held postseason prospect implications.

The Pirates and Viking boys are tied, with Bigfork holding the edge in goal differential. The girls trail the Valkyries in goal differential as well as in the standings, saddled with an additional loss in contrast to a Val tie, but could have forged a tie in conference standings with one game remaining on both schedules.

However, the remainder of the girls’ season was scrubbed Monday when a COVID-19 case was confirmed in a person who was in contact with the team. Contact tracing was implemented and a two-week quarantine period for the entire girls soccer squad was set. Their regular schedule will have wrapped by the time they are cleared to resume activities mid-October.

The boys’ homecoming contest with Bigfork was unaffected and still a go as of Tuesday.

Lady Pirates clawed by Kats, lash Lady Loggers

At Polson, the host Lady Pirates played a competitive rematch with the visiting WildKats during first-half action, briefly leading at one juncture 2-1. Thereafter, Columbia Falls was able to exploit seams in the defense, utilizing precision passing, deft ball handling and their physicality to create separation.

Polson brought their "A" game in the first half as Autumn Burland netted a brace (2g), while Ali Hupka scored an early going equalizer to knot the contest at 1-1. Sophomore mid Tia Mercer contributed both a goal as well as dished an assist, while Kyla Heiser along with Ellie Dupuis helped set the table for the last tandem of tallies.

Contributing factors to the escalation in disparity on the scoreboard were a first half injury sustained by Kyla Heiser and the absence of veteran center back defender Grace Hobbs that affected the Lady Pirates ability to counter as effectively.

Earlier in the week at Columbia Falls, the visiting Lady Pirates played the host WildKats even during first half action. But Columbia Falls was able to dictate the tempo during the second half while repelling their visitors.

Tia Mercer and Autumn Burland netted the two goals for Polson, while Burland and Kyla Heiser dished the respective assists.

The Lady Pirates got back on the winning track at home against the visiting Lady Loggers of Libby. Tia Mercer emulated her best impression of USWNT Alex Morgan’s "that's the T" as she factored into nine goals, scoring a double brace (2g x2) while dishing assists on five others. Both Autumn Burland and Kyla Heiser each netted a brace (2g) while Heiser likewise dished a pair of assists. Sophia Moderie rounded out the scoring with a goal and an assist, while Lilly Armstrong assisted on the first goal when she planted a precision through ball pass at the feet of Mercer for the opening score.

Autumn Burland receives the graciousness award for deliberately shanking her penalty kick awarded for a technical infraction when the Libby keeper inadvertently reached out of the box to intercept a ball.

Polson 10, Libby 0

Polson (2-4n, 2-6), Libby (1-5n, 1-6-1)

Libby 0 0 – 0

Polson 4 6 – 10

P – g Tia Mercer (a Lilly Armstrong) 25'

P – g T.Mercer (a Kyla Heiser) 29'

P – g K.Heiser (a T.Mercer) 31'

P – g Autumn Burland (a T.Mercer) 33'

P – g Sophia Moderie (a T.Mercer) 40'

P – g K.Heiser (a T.Mercer) 41'

P – g T.Mercer (aS.Moderie) 46'

P – g T.Mercer (a K.Heiser) 61'

P – g Ali Hupka (unassisted) 77'

P –g A.Burland (a T.Mercer) 78'

Shots-(on-GOAL) – L23(18), P40(28)*

SAVES – L17sv (Anna Pallister 17s1k5h), P14sv (Megan Rost 14s5h)

CORNERS, FOULS – L1ck/P3ck, L6f/P6f, no cards.

indiv sh(SOG) – POLSON - Mercer 13(10), Burland 14(8):wide68'pk, K.Heiser 5(3), Moderie (3), Hupka 3(2), Paige Mergenthaler (2); LIBBY -Isabelle Kapan 9(7):(P12dfl49'), Bethany Thomas 6(4):(xbar4'ric), Elise Erickson (4), Allie Thorstenson (2), Isabella Swanson (1):(P14dfl59'), Alexus Moeller 1. (Sa03Oct20)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternate data exists - LPsideline specs: P22sh(16sog), Rost 8sv

Columbia Falls 14, Polson 4

Polson (1-4n, 1-6), C-Falls (4-1n, 7-1)

C-Falls 6 8 – 14

Polson 4 0 – 4

CF – g Maddie Robison (a Johnston-Heinz ck) 1'

P — g Ali Hupka (unassisted) 2'

P — g Autumn Burland (a Tia Mercer) 6'

CF – g Cheyenne Johnston-Heinz (unassisted) 10'

CF – g Johnston-Heinz (a Hope McAtee) 14'

CF – g Robison (a Sydney Mann) 16'

P — g Mercer (a Kyla Heiser) 22'

CF – g Robison (a Johnston-Heinz) 28'

CF – g Robison (a CF12 Josie Harris) 33'

P — g Burland (a Ellie Dupuis) 37'

CF – g Robison (unassisted) 52'

CF – g Robison (a McAtee) 55'

CF – g Maddie Robison (a McAtee) 57'

CF – g Johnston-Heinz (a Robison) 58'

CF – g Johnston-Heinz (a McAtee) 60'

CF – g Maddie Robison (a Z.Byrd) 61'

CF – g McAtee (a Johnston-Heinz) 67'

CF – g McAtee (a Syd Mann) 70'

Shots-(on-GOAL) – CF36(30), P19(13)

SAVES – CF 5 (Zoey Byrd 2sv2k1h, Nevaeh Carlin 3sv1k2h), P (Megan Rost 13sv2h1k )

CORNERS, FOULS, CARDS – CF5ck/P1ck, CF15f/P5f, CF1y (K.Bruner)

(Th01Oct20)

indiv sh(SOG) – POLSON 19(13) - Autumn Burland (5):(g)(defl20'gk)(g-defl37b')(CF17defl60')(71'); Tia Mercer 2(1):(g)wide44'; Ali Hupka 2(1):(g)CFdefl64'; Kyla Heiser (2):(9')(28'); Sophia Moderie 4(2):43'(45')(46')wide54'; Lilly Armstrong 3(1):(dk10')34',75'; Ellie Dupuis (1):(CFdefl37a'); C-FALLS - Robison 15(13):(post31'ric); Johnston-Heinz 13(11); McAtee (3); Z.Byrd 1; Sydney Mann (1), LaKia Hill (1), Alexis Green (1), Julia Martin 1.

ACRONYM KEY – GK specs: sv (save), k (kick), h (handle)

Columbia Falls 6, Polson 2

Polson (1-3n, 1-5), C-Falls (3-1n, 6-1)

Polson 2 0 – 2

C-Falls 2 4 – 6

P — g Tia Mercer (a Autumn Burland*) 2'

CF – g Maddie Robison 5'

CF – g Hope McAtee (a Cheyanne Johnston-Heinz) 7'

P — g Autumn Burland (a Kyla Heiser*) 30'

CF – g Johnston-Heinz (a M.Robison) 50'

CF – g Maddie Robison (a H.McAtee) 64'

CF – g Hope McAtee (a M.Robison) 66'

CF – g Maddie Robison (a Neveah Carlin) 71'

Shots-(on-GOAL) – P7, CF25

SAVES – P19 (Megan Rost ), CF7 (Zoey Byrd)

CORNERS, FOULS – P1ck/CF8ck, P2f/CF7f, no cards.

(Tu29Sep20)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternate data exists - venue report to media: Pg1(a Kyla Heiser), Pg2 (a Tia Mercer). Discrepancy may suggest vantage or familiarity factors by reporting venue.

Cats pose conundrum, but Pirates topple Loggers

At Columbia Falls earlier last week, the visiting Pirates played the host Wildcats to a draw during first-half action as each team scored a goal. But thereafter, the Cats appended double bookend goals that sandwiched the Pirates lone counter as the host team emerged with a crucial 5-2 conference victory.

Junior forward Kaden Nelson scored both goals for the Pirates. The first-half equalizer came off an assist from Braedon Iliff. The Pirates’ lone second half goal was a soccer equivalent of a wrestling full Nelson when brother Ashten lofted the ball over the Cat defender at the feet of Kaden, who added the finishing flourish.

At Polson in the rematch segment of the conference clash, the host Pirates surrendered less goals, but also scored less themselves as the visiting Wildcats emerged with a shutout. Pirate defenders Cade Lanier, Zevan Walker and Austin Luper deflected at least nine shots on frame that spared goalkeeper Tristan Clifford from having to intervene.

At Polson this past Saturday, the Pirates swept the visiting Libby Loggers. Kaden Nelson netted a hat trick (3g), while Elijah Taylor scored as well as factored into a pair of assists. Landon Becker, Keith Erickson and Tristan Snyder set the table by dishing assists.

Polson 4, Libby 0

Polson (2-3-1n, 2-5-1), Libby (0-6n, 0-8)

Libby 0 0 – 0

Polson 1 3 – 4

P – g Kaden Nelson (a Elijah Taylor) 37'

P – g K.Nelson (a Landon Becker) 63'

P – g K.Nelson (a¹ Keith Erickson, a² Taylor) 65'

P – g Taylor (a Tristan Snyder) 78'

Shots-(on-GOAL) – L5(2), P46(31)

SAVES – L15 (Gabe Hollingsworth 6s, Kiye Jenkins 9s4h), P1 (Tristan Clifford 1s1k6h)

CORNERS, FOULS, CARDS – L1ck/P5ck, L6f/P8f, P1y (Taylor).

indiv sh(SOG) – POLSON: K.Nelson 11(8), Taylor 9(6), Austin Luper 8(5), Cade Lanier 5(3), K.Erickson 5(2), Anthony Lichtenberg 4(3):(xbar24'ric), Ashten Nelson (2), "TK" Snyder 1(2), noID 1; LIBBY: Isaac O'Roarke 3(1), Steven Valencia (1), G.Hollingsworth 1. (Sa03Oct20)

Columbia Falls 3, Polson 0

Polson (1-3-1, 1-5-1), C-Falls (4-0-1, 7-0-1)

C-Falls 2 1 – 3

Polson 0 0 – 0

CF – g Jason Albin (unassisted) 13'

CF – g Kai Golan (a Albin) 27'

CF – g Albin (a Finley Sundberg) 74'

Shots-(on-GOAL) – CF35sh(20), P6sh(4sog)

SAVES – CF3 (Niels Getts 1h, Johnny Carl 2sv2k), P10 (Tristan Clifford 10sv7h),

CORNERS, FOULS – CF9ck/P0ck, CF6f/P8f, no cards.

indiv sh(SOG) – POLSON: Kaden Nelson 4(2):wide32',42'(CF?defl63')(68'); Keith Erickson (1):(57'); Austin Luper (1):(59'). C-FALLS: Albin 10(6):hdr12'(GKdefl36'post)FBxbar64'ric; Golan 8(5):(P13defl22')(P12defl28')(P9defl70'); Sundberg 5(3):hdr12'(P9defl16')FBxbar58'ric; Carl 2(1); Andrew Miner (1); Tyler Hull 1; George Robbins (1);Ethan Austin (1).

(Th01Oct20)

Columbia Falls 5, Polson 2

Polson (1-2-1, 1-4-1), C-Falls (3-0-1, 6-0-1)

Polson 1 1 – 2

C-Falls 1 4 – 5

CF – g Jason Albin 22'

P — g Kaden Nelson (a Braedon Iliff) 34'

CF – g Finley Sundberg (a Albin) 55'

CF – g Neils Getts (a Kai Golan) 57'

P — g Kaden Nelson (a Ashten Nelson) 57'

CF – g Sundberg (a Johnny Carl) 64'

CF – g Albin (pk) 69'

Shots-(on-GOAL) – P10sh, CF26sh

SAVES – P14 (Tristan Clifford), CF4 (Bryce Dunham)

CORNERS, FOULS – P0ck/CF10ck, P8f/CF3f, no cards.

(Tu29Sep20)