Polson boys finish 2nd at state
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WHITEFISH – The Polson Pirates soccer team may not have won the State A championship against Whitefish on Saturday, but head coach Jess Kittle and his boys have a lot to be proud of. Polson ended its season with a 3-0 loss to Whitefish on Saturday at Smiths Field, but Polson had an impressive six All-Conference athletes, and four of them also took All-State honors.
“I’m so proud of this team; they fought hard all season, starting from our first practice under the lights at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 15. all the way through the final whistle of the state championship game” Kittle said.
Polson started off the game well, keeping the game scoreless until Whitefish’s Sam Donaldson gave his team a 1-0 advantage at the 33-minute mark.
“We played fairly well in this game, but we couldn’t get our shots to go in,” Kittle said. “Whitefish was the better team. They were able to finish their shots.”
The first two goals Whitefish scored came after Clay Frissell blocked the initial shots, but the Bulldogs were able to gain control of the loose ball before clearing it out of Polson’s defensive end. The third Whitefish goal came when Polson had most of its defense pushed up trying to score a comeback goal.
“The loss still hurts, because it is still so fresh in our memories,” Kittle said. “But after time passes, we will be able to look back on this season and be proud of the accomplishments of these great guys.”
Polson will lose a quality class of seven seniors this spring to graduation, six of which made all-conference, and four All-State athletes.
“I will miss their leadership in practices and in games,” Kittle said. “Our younger guys have some big shoes to fill for the next season, but I think they can do it.”
Of Polson’s four losses all season, Whitefish handed them three, as the Bulldogs proved they were the better team this year, Kittle said.
Frissell finished the game with eight keeper saves, and Polson had four shots on the goal to Whitefish’s 11.
Polson All-Conference athletes: James Larson, Riley Lemm, Nick Howell, Clay Frissell, Jon Murphy, Caden von Wildenradt
Polson All-State athletes: James Larson, Riley Lemm, Nick Howell, Clay Frissell
SUMMARY
Polson 0, Whitefish 3
W - Sam Donaldson, 33:00
W – Nathan Boone, 56:00
W– Janni Donaldson, 79:00
Shots on goal – Polson 4, Whitefish 11. Keeper saves – Polson 8 (Frissell), Whitefish 4 (Thomas Clark). Corner kicks – Polson 4, Whitefish 5. Fouls, Polson 9, Whitefish 12. Yellow Cards – none. Red cards – none.
