Friday, August 2, 2023

Lone Peak 5, Polson 1

P – g Anthony Lichtenberg (a ?) na'

Indiv sh(sog) – P(7): Ashten Nelson (3), A.Lichtenberg (2), Robert Merchant (1), Jackson Bontadelli (1); LP5g2a: Cash Beattie 2g, Beckett Johnson 1g1a, Arlo Hurlbut 1g, Finn McRae 1g, Dudley Davis 1a. (Fr25Aug23)

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Polson 12, E.Helena 2

Pirates (1-1), Vigilantes (0-2)

Polson      6   6 – 12

E.Helena  1   1 –   2

P– g Robert Merchant (unassisted) 2'

P – g Ashten Nelson (unassisted) 4'

P – g Taegen Gage (a Cruz Lies) 10'

P – g A.Nelson (a Brody Kline) 12'

P – g Lucian Sawyer (a Merchant) 25'

P – g Merchant (unassisted) 39'

EH –g Kiegan LeVie ( ) 39'

EH –g K.LeVie ( ) 42'

P– g Merchant (a Quinton Clark) 43'

P– g Merchant (a Ted Mausshardt) 53'

P– g Donovan Beeks (a Nelson) 58'

P– g Jackson Bontadelli (a Edgar Vejez Pete) 68'

P– g Bontadelli (a Pete) 71'

P– g Branson Moss (a Dion Lichtenberg) 79'

SHOTS-(ON GOAL) – P(28), EH

SAVES – P (Maddox Bird, Pete, Sternick). EH ()

CORNERS – P , EH

Indiv sh(sog) – P : Robert Merchant 4g1a(), Ashten Nelson 2g1a(), Jackson Bontadelli 2g(), Taegen Gage 1g(), Lucian Sawyer 1g(), Donovan Beeks 1g(), Branson Moss 1g(), Edgar Vejez Pete 2a, Cruz Lies 1a, Brody Kline 1a, Quinton Clark 1a, Ted Mausshardt 1a, Dion Lichtenberg 1a; EH: Kiegan LeVie 2g

(Sa26Aug23)

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Polson 1, Corvallis 0 (lightening suspension)

Pirates (na), Blue Devils (na)

Corvallis  0   x –

Polson     1   x –

P – g Anthony Lichtenberg (fk) 20'

SHOTS-(ON GOAL) – C (), P()

SAVES – C (Sam Bohenek), P (Maddox Bird )

CORNERS – C0, P1

Indiv sh(SOG) – C- Miles Brondum 2(1): xbar 13', wide15'; Ryan Hutchison 1:side 3'.  P- 

(Tu29Aug23)

Nonconference game suspended due to multiple lightning strikes at about 22' mark.

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Polson 3, Hamilton 1

Pirates (2-1), Broncs (1-2)

Hamilton 0 1 – 1

Polson 0 3 – 3

H – g Andy Purcell 44'

P – g Ashten Nelson (a Quinton Clark) 50'

P – g Ted Mausshardt (a Merchant) 52'

P – g Robert Merchant (a Nelson) 72'

SHOTS-(ON GOAL) – H15(7), P19(11)

SAVES – H(Elijah Jackson 7), P(Maddox Bird 6).

CORNERS, CARDS – H , P. P1y(R.Ellis)

Indiv sh(sog) – H: P : A.Nelson 1g1a(4):(12')(45')(g)(72'); R.Merchant 1g1a7(3): ovr3'(5')(26')fg37'(g)wide75',FBupright77'; T.Mausshardt 1g(2):(38')(g)crash70'; Anthony Lichtenberg 2(1): (2')wide28'; Tate Barentson 3(1):wide44'(48') Jackson Bontadelli (1):(64'); Cruz Lies 1; Quinton Clark 1a.

(Th31Aug23)

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Columbia Falls 4 Polson 0

Pirates (0-1, 2-2), Wildcats (2-0, 5-0-1)

Polson  0   0 — 0

C-Falls  3   1 — 4

CF – g Max Everett (a Traic Fainter) 8:00

CF – g Kai Golan (a River Wolford) 11:00

CF – g Everett 35:00

CF – g Golan (a Wolford) 69:00

SHOTS – Polson 15, CF 18.

SAVES –P12 (Maddox Bird), CF13 (Rafe Rusche).

CORNERS – P4ck, CF6ck.

FOULS – P14f, CF11f. CARDS – P1, CF1.

(Th07Sep23)

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Polson 3, Libby 0

Pirates (1-1, 3-2), Loggers ()

Polson  1   2 – 3

Libby    0   0 – 0

P – g Ashten Nelson (pk) 19'

P – g Robert Merchant (a Lucian Sawyer) 47'

P – g A.Nelson (a Anthony Lichtenberg) 49'

SHOTS – Polson 16(9) , Libby ()

SAVES – P7 (Maddox Bird), L ()

CORNERS, FOULS,CARDS – na

Indiv (SOG)sh – Ashten Nelson 2g(4)6; Robert Merchant 1g(2)4; Anthony Lichtenberg 1a,1sh; Lucian Sawyer 1a, Pablo Gatell (1)2, Quinton Clark (1), Jackson Bontadelli (1), Ted Mausshardt 1.

(Sa09Sep23)

Ashten 2g(2sog)2sh, Robert 1g(1sog)2sh, Anthony Lichtenberg 1a()1sh, Lucian Sawyer 1a, Pablo Gatell (1sog)1sh, Quinton Clark (1sog), Jackson Bontadelli (1sog), Ted Mausshardt 1sh

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Pirates pick up second conference win

by John Heglie

At the Polson Sports Complex for the Homecoming soccer match, the host Pirates took control of the tempo early to forge a multiple goal cushion at the half. Thereafter, the defense repelled Viking efforts to close the gap, holding the visitors to a single second half goal.

Anthony Lichtenberg netted a hat trick with Pablo Gatell supplying the assist on the middle goal. Ashten Nelson added the frosting off an assist dished by Robert Merchant.  Goalkeepers Maddox Bird and Edgar Vejez Pete combined to repel the Bigfork attack with seven saves while also picking the ball up off the turf on ten other occasions.

Polson 4, Bigfork 1

Pirates (2-1, 4-2), Vikings (0-3, 0-7)

Bigfork  0   1 – 1

Polson   4   0 – 4

P – g Anthony Lichtenberg (pk) 7'

P – g A.Lichtenberg (a Pablo Gatell) 26'

P – g A.Lichtenberg (fk) 31'

P – g Ashten Nelson (a Robert Merchant) 36'

B – g Caleb Riedesel 58'

SHOTS-(on-GOAL) – B(8)14, P(16)25

SAVES – B12 (Cole Carlson), P7(Maddox Bird 5sv,9h; Edgar Vejez Pete 2sv,1h)

CORNERS,FOULS – B2ck/P5ck

CARDS – B2y(Riedesel, Corban Benson), P1y(A.Nelson)

Indiv (SOG)sh – Caleb Riedesel 1g(7)8: (5'walldefl)26'ovr(29')(32'hdr)(57')(g)(65')(fk77'); Hunter Miland (3)4: (21'drive)(66')wide68'(75'); Leo Diaz 1: 31'fk; Donovan Stutsman 1: 33'. Anthony Lichtenberg 3g(6)8 : (pk)12'wide(19')(g)(g)wide60'(73')(fk78'); Ashten Nelson 1g(3)4: (1')(2')25'wide(g) ; Ted Mausshardt (2)3: (3')35'wide(70'); Tate Barentsen (1)2: (22')35'FBxbar; Lucian Sawyer (2): (41'Defl)(43'); Robert Merchant (1)2: (43b')wide48' ; Jackson Bontadelli (1)2: 53'(71'); Branson Moss (1): (72'); Brody Kline 1:wide73'

Defender deflections – Corban Benson (1')(41')

(Tu12Sep23)

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Whitefish 8, Polson 0

Pirates (2-2, 4-3), Bulldogs (4-0, 6-0)

Polson 0 0 – 0

Whitefish 2 6 – 8

W – g Griffin Gunlikson (a Lyman) 8'

W – g Preston McPherson (a Ryder Elliott) 19'

W – g Collin Lyman (a Elliott) 57'

W – g Sam Dow (a Lyman) 62'

W – g S.Dow (a Jonson) 65'

W – g Logan Bingham 75'

W – g Kyler Jonson goal (pk) 78'

W – g Jonson (a Bingham) 79'

SHOTS – P3, W15

SAVES – P7 (Maddox Bird), W3 (Ethan Bourque)

CORNERS, FOULS, CARDS – P1ck, W9ck; P9f, W10f; P1y W1y

(Th14Sep23)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Pitch proficient Pirates pressure defending state champs with late surge

by John Heglie

At the Polson Sports Complex, the visiting defending State A champion Wildcats and the host Pirates played to a scoreless draw during first half action. The Wildcats would string together a trio of goals to take a 3-0 lead midway through second half action.

After a Polson player was fouled, Anthony Lichtenberg lofted a quick free kick into the right side of the goal to put the Pirates on the scoreboard.

Thereafter, Canary Island foreign exchange student Pablo Gatell would launch a missile in the waning minutes from 20-some yards out that would find its target in the upper corner of the net to close the deficit to a single goal differential 3-2.

The pair of Pirate goals were the first against the Wildcats since a 5-2 shortfall back in 2020 and the closest Polson has played C-Falls since trailing by a mere goal 2-1 back in 2019.

BOYS

Columbia Falls 3, Polson 2

Pirates (2-3, 4-4), Wildcats (4-1, 7-1-1)

C-Falls  0   3 – 3

Polson  0   2 – 2

CF – g Kai Golan (a Traic Fainter) 50'

CF – g River Wolford (a Connor Zumalt) 53'

CF – g Wolford (a Fainter) 61'

P – g Anthony Lichtenberg (fk) 69 '

P – g Pablo Gatell 79'

SHOTS-(ON-GOAL) – CF21(14), P21(10).

SAVES –CF7 (Rafe Rusche), P9h3k,6S2K1B (Maddox Bird 9sv) .

CORNERS – CF5ck, P0ck,.

FOULS –  CF8f, P7f. CARDS – none.

indiv sh(SOG) – Polson 21(10)- Anthony Lichtenberg 4(2): ovr11', Ddefl25'(fk38')(g); Pablo Gatell (1):(g) Lucian Sawyer 4(2): (31')wide33',ovr37'(74'); Quinton Clark 1: Ddefl27'; Jackson Bontadelli 5(1): wide36a',ovr36b',72',wide77'(79'); Robert Merchant 2(1): hdr49'ovr(Ddefl73'); Tate Barentsen 1: wide52'; Ashten Nelson (3):(55')(70')(73').

Defender deflections – Cruz Lies (15')(52')

(Tu19Sep23)

variants: DIL(CF10sog/P8sog), (CF4sv/P6sv)

GKspecs: P (hhhkhhhksKsB|khhhsKggsssg)

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Pirates of the pitch topple Loggers to even conference slate

by John Heglie

At the Polson Sports Complex on a drizzly afternoon for Senior Night, the Pirates of the pitch honored their senior mates in proper fashion by netting a victory that moved their soccer squad closer to securing a postseason berth. Senior mid Anthony Lichtenberg notched a hat trick, his second tirade of the toe triple of the season. Robert Merchant punched in a penalty kick, while Lucian Sawyer added a late insurance goal to go along with dishing out a pair of assists. High octane freshman Jackson Bontadelli contributed an assist to Lichtenberg's third goal, while Merchant dished the assist on the final goal of the contest. Senior mid Tate Barentsen, forwards Quinton Clark along with Canary Island exchange student senior Pablo Gatell and defender Taegen Gage all contributed to feeding lines to attackers that kept the pressure on the Libby side of the field. Regular starting senior forward Ashten Nelson would be sidelined on account of a bout of being under the weather that extended beyond any detrimental effects derived from drizzle.

Polson 5, Libby 2

Pirates (3-3, 5-4), Loggers (0-6-1, 2-7-1)

Libby    2   0 –  2

Polson  3   2 –  5

P – g Anthony Lichtenberg (a Sawyer) 4'

L – g Joaquin Canizares 10'

P – g A.Lichtenberg hdr (a Sawyer) 20'

P – g Robert Merchant (pk) 36'

L – g Alderic Martineau 38'

P – g A.Lichtenberg (a Jackson Bontadelli) 50'

P – g Lucian Sawyer (a Merchant) 76'

SHOTS-(on-GOAL) – L18(13), P21(17)

SAVES – L9sv (Aaron Thomas 8s1b2k8h), P9sv (Maddox Bird 9s1k5h)

CORNERS, FOULS – L2ck,P1ck; L>2f,P11f. No cards.

Indiv (SOG)sh – Libby (13)18: J.Canizares (3)6:(g)wide15',wide18',wide45'(hdr46')(hdr66'); A.Martineau (1):(g); Dylan Warner (4)5: (21'P12defl)(ck27')(41')(55')ovr 78'; JJ Fosgate (1):(3'); Carter Benjamin (1):(37'); Nolan Morris 1: wide37'; Charlie Weber (2): (65')(72'); Kale Hall (1):(75').  Polson (17)21: A.Lichtenberg (6)7:(g)(5')(fk12')(g)(g)wide57'(74'); L.Sawyer (6):(6')(26'L22defl)(33')(59')(g)(77'); Merchant (1):(g); Quinton Clark (2)3:ovr13'(14'L22defl)(78'); Pablo Gatell (2):(26')(78'); Dion Lichtenberg 2:over3'FG,over58';

Defender deflections – Colby Iliff (14'P15'defl)(26'P6defl); Cruz Lies (21'L13defl)

Acronym key: ck(corner kick), f(foul), s(save), b(block), k(kick), h(handle), '(minute)

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Bigfork 2, Polson 1

Pirates (3-4, 5-5), Vikings (1-5-1, 1-9-1)

Polson   1   0 – 1

Bigfork  2   0 – 2

B – g Caleb Riedesel (pk) 5'

B – g own goal 7'

P – g Pablo Gatell 12'

SHOTS-(on-GOAL) – P, B

SAVES – P(Maddox Bird), B (Cole Carlson)

(Tu03Oct23)

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Pirates of the pitch plundered by penalty

by John Heglie

At the Polson Sports Complex for the regular schedule finale, the visiting undefeated Bulldogs and the host Pirates were on pace toward a scoreless draw as Polson played a vintage defensive match. But a foul in the box midway through the second half would blemish the scoreboard as Ryder Elliot netted a penalty kick that would be the difference of the game. The Pirates had a half dozen chances thereafter, but couldn’t thread the ball past the keeper. The Pirate will take the third seed out of the northern division and will face Eastern top-seed Billings Central next weekend.

Whitefish 1, Polson 0

Pirates (3-5, 5-6), Bulldogs (8-0, 11-0)

Whitefish  0   1 –  1

Polson       0   0 –  0

W – g Ryder Elliott (pk) 60'

SHOTS – W(8) , P14(6)

SAVES – W4 (Ethan Bourque, Charlie Dow), P7 (Maddox Bird)

CORNERS, FOULS, CARDS – W4ck/P2ck, W10f/P16f, W1()

Indiv sh(SOG) – WHITEFISH (representative): RyeDuffy (hdr32'), Sam Dow FBxbar72'; Elliott (xbar42'ric); W25Bourque (post44'ric).  POLSON: Anthony Lichtenberg 4(2): ovr3'(fk63')wide70'(74b') ; Ted Mausshardt 2(1): (4')19'; Ashten Nelson 3(1): 9',65'(73'); Dion Lichtenberg 1:(18'); Tate Barentsen 1:wide55'; Jackson Bontadelli (1):(66'); Robert Merchant 2(1): wide68'(74a').

Defender deflections – Cruz Lies (W14:43'), Dion Lichtenberg (W8:56')

(Sa07Oct23)

Wbk: W8sog, P4sog

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Ram tough BC keeps truckin, torpedo Pirates

by John Heglie

At Billings, the visiting Pirates of the pitch sought to extend their soccer season another round against the Billings Central Rams in first round playoff action. Polson held their hosts scoreless through the first half of action much like they did their previous game against Whitefish. But a foul in the box would result in a penalty kick for the Rams that Luke Pankratz would convert to take the lead. Thereafter, BC was able to exploit a pair of seams in the defense for two more scores. The outcome put a wrap on the season for the Pirates, while the Rams advance to the second round to face Corvallis. Polson bids farewell to a half dozen seniors (fwd) Ashten Nelson (6g2a), (mid/def) Anthony Lichtenberg (9g1a), (mid) Tate Barentsen, (fwd) Quinton Clark (2a), (def) Taegen Gage (1g) and foreign exchange student (fwd) Pablo Gatell (2g1a) from the Canary Islands.

1E Billings Central 3, 3N Polson 0

Pirates (5-7), Rams (10-0-3)

Polson  0   0 – 0

BlgsC    0   3 – 3

BC – g Luke Pankratz (pk) 55'

BC – g Jack Milroy (a Drake Tourtlotte) 57'

BC – g Pankratz (a Cole Bland) 75'

SHOTS-(on-GOAL) – P0, BC11

SAVES – P(Maddox Bird), BC (Logan Hutzenbiler)

Indiv sh(SOG) – Luke Pankratz 2g, Jack Milroy 1g, Drake Tourtlotte 1a, Cole Bland 1a

(Sa14Oct23)

Pitch proficient Pirates place quartet among postseason list

by John Heglie

Five Polson Pirate boys soccer players were acknowledged with postseason recognition for their athletic acumen on the pitch this past season. Conferred with all-state status was Anthony Lichtenberg, who led the Pirates in scoring with nine goals tallied over the course of a half dozen games that included a pair of hat tricks (3 goals).

Keeper Maddox Bird was named to the first team, who repelled numerous incursions upon the real estate he was tasked to defend, denying prospective goals that shifted the tide in favor of the Pirates.

A pair of Pirates were named to the second team on account of their feats of the feet. Midfielder Tate Barentsen along with defender/midfielder Cruz Lies were core facilitators at both ends of the field, distributing deft passes to teammates while disrupting opposing players on defense. This was the second postseason acknowledgement for Lies, an honorable mention last season.

Receiving honorable mention was forward Ashten Nelson, who scored a pair of braces (2 goals) over the course of the season while drawing attention of opposing defenders when on the attack.

Keeper Maddox Bird was named to the first team, who repelled numerous incursions upon the real estate he was tasked to defend, denying prospective goals that shifted the tide in favor of the Pirates.

POLSON – (a-s): Anthony Lichtenberg; (1st-tm): Maddox Bird; (2nd-tm): Tate Barentsen, Cruz Lies; (hm): Ashten Nelson.

2023 Northern A boys postseason accolades

WHITEFISH – (a-s): Rye Duffy, Ryder Elliott, Adam Healy, Kyler Jonson, Jackson Dorvall; (2nd-tm): Elijah Adams-Griffin, Griffin Gunlikson, Charlie Hyatt, Collin Lyman, Preston McPherson.

COLUMBIA FALLS – (a-s): Kai Golan, River Wolford; (2nd-tm): Max Everett, Traic Fainter, Ethan Henjum; (hm): Rafe Rusche.

POLSON – (a-s): Anthony Lichtenberg; (1st-tm): Maddox Bird; (2nd-tm): Tate Barentsen, Cruz Lies; (hm): Ashten Nelson.

LIBBY – (1st-tm): Alderic Martineau; (hm): Colby Iliff, Nolan Morris.

BIGFORK – (1st-tm): Caleb Riedesel; (2nd-tm): Quinn Kerr; (hm): Corban Benson.

Notes: All-state status includes concommitant first-team recognition as well. One additional all-state selection (7+1) for each conference/division that has a team make the semi-finals (2023 NWA gets 1 bonus pick)

2023 Southern A boys postseason accolades

CORVALLIS – (a-s): Jack Hanssen, Eli Knight, Ryan Hutchison; (1st-tm): Cole Herminghaus; (2nd-tm): Enzio Monnier, Myles Brodum, Fox Goodrich; (hm): Chance Jessop.

HAMILTON – (a-s): Dane Hayward, Jason Chaplin; (1st-tm): Alex Koch; (2nd-tm): Haven Oshell, Andy Purcell; (hm): Gabe Judy.

STEVENSVILLE – (a-s): David Beames, Evan Montague; (2nd-tm): Cole Fowler, Umar Sodagar, Jon Post; (hm): Jake Gavlak.

FRENCHTOWN – (a-s): Ty Stark; (1st-tm): Ashton Stagg; (2nd-tm): Levi Zandi, Francesco Pone, Hunter Lund; (hm): Nate Moua.

cumulative career (seniors only)

Anthony Lichtenberg 12g4a (2023:9g1a, 2022:2g3a, 2021:na, 2020:1g), Ashten Nelson 7g3a (2023:6g2a, 2022:na, 2021:na, 2020 1g1a), Tate Barentsen 1g (2023:na, 2022:1g), Pablo Gatell 2g1a, Taegen Gage 1g, Quinton Clark 2a.

Polson Pirate soccer

Fall2023bsc (3-5, 5-7; +32/-32: 32g20a) – Anthony Lichtenberg 9g1a, Robert Merchant 7g4a, Ashten Nelson 6g2a, Lucian Sawyer 2g3a, Pablo Gatell 2g1a, Jackson Bontadelli 2g1a, Ted Mausshardt 1g1a, Taegen Gage 1g, Branson Moss 1g, Donovan Beeks 1g, Quinton Clark 2a, Edgar Vejez Pete 2a, Dion Lichtenberg 1a, Cruz Lies 1a, Brody Kline 1a.

Fall2022bsc (3-5, 3-10; +17/-50: 17g9a) – Pietro Durando 6g, Braydon Luikart 3g3a, Robert Merchant 2g, Ted Mausshardt 2g1a, Tate Barentsen 1g, Anthony Lichtenberg 2g3a, Dion Lichtenberg 1g, Cruz Lies 1a, Lucian Sawyer 1a

Fall2021bsc (2-6, 2-10; +16/-51: 16g9a) – Braydon Luikart 7g3a, Jack Colton 6g3a, Kaden Nelson 3g2a, Tray Lichtenberg 1a

Fall2020bsc (2-5-1, 2-7-1; +19/-36: 19g21a) – Kaden Nelson 11g1a, Keith Erickson 3g4a, Elijah Taylor 2g5a, Landon Becker 1g2a, Ashten Nelson 1g1a, Anthony Lichtenberg 1g, Austin Luper 2a, Braedon Iliff 2a, Cade Lanier 2a, Tristan Snyder 1a, Zevan Walker 1a.