Soccer: Polson sweeps Libby

 Polson Boys 6, Libby 3
LIBBY - James Larson scored three goals and got an assist as the Polson Pirates upended the defending state champions 6-3 on Thursday night. Larson now has six goals on the season through four games, but perhaps what was most promising in this game was how spread out the Pirates' goalscoring was.

Libby got on the board first in the 14th minute, but Polson answered back with goals from Riley Lemm and Larson. For the Pirates first goal, Steven Walk played the ball through two defenders and then Lemm able to use a little Ol' English to get it by the goalkeeper. For the second one, Larson took a pass from Jon Huetmaker and drove it to the near post. It bounced and went into the net. 

"Libby came out and score quick but our offense stepped up and answered right back," Polson head coach Jess Kittle said. "Everytime Libby scored we would score within the next four minutes." 

The Pirates went into halftime with a 2-1 lead but Libby would even things up early in the 43rd minute.

Larson gave Polson the lead again four minutes later thanks to Jon Murphy's incredible throw-in skills.

"James took a long throw-in from Jon and headed it past the keeper," Kittle said. "That was Jon's second assist this year and both have come from long throw-ins to James."

Libby tied things up again in the 53rd minute, but Walk gave Polson the advantage thanks to some excellent passing by Alex Helgeson.

"Alex played a ball across the middle of the field to Steven Walk, who faked with his right foot and the ball rolled across to his left foot and he drove it past a defender and the Libby keeper," Kittle said.

Larson got his third goal of the game from a penalty kick in the 66th minute after he took a ball into the 18 -yard box and the Libby's keeper came out and took him out with a foul. 

However the best goal of the night, according to Kittle, was the last one.

"Jon Murphy sent a ball over the top to Riley Lemm, who flicked it over his head to Jon Heutmaker, who then headed it right to James. He took it off his chest in the air and flicked it to Riley, who was making a run through the Libby defense. The ball bounced once and then Riley struck a half volley with his left foot and drove it into the far side netting," Kittle said. "The goal was a beautiful demonstration of teamwork."

That score happened before the whistle sounded to end the game, in the 76th minute.

Polson improved to 2-1-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Polson 6, Libby 3
Polson - 2 - 4 - 6
Libby - 1 - 2 - 3

Scoring Summary
L - Talus Martin (Jason Schnackenberg) 14:00
P - Riley Lemm (Steven Walk) 17:00
P - James Larson (Jon Huetmaker) 39:00
L - Talus Martin 43:00
P - James Larson (Jon Murphy) 47:00
L - Patrick Valentine (Martin) 53:00
P - Steven Walk (Alex Helgeson) 54:00
P - James Larson (PK) 66:00
P - Riley Lemm (Larson) 76:00

Shots on Goal - Polson 9, Libby 6
Keeper Saves - Polson 3 (Clay Frissell) Libby 3 (Rob Hamilton)
Corner Kicks - Polson 3, Libby 2 (Xe 
Fouls - Polson 10, Libby 7
Yellow cards - none
Red cards - none ox)


Polson Girls 3, Libby 1
LIBBY — The Polson Lady Pirates won their second game of the season with a 3-1 victory over Libby on Thursday night thanks to goals by Grace Rehbein, Sara Robinson and Annie Venters.

Polson controlled the pace of the game and outshot the Lady Loggers 17-5.

Grace Rehbein got things started for the Lady Pirates in the 21st minute, followed by Sara Robinson in the 29th. Libby's lone goal game in the 54th minute of play, but Annie Venters negated that with another Polson score in the 60th minute.

Libby fell to 0-6 on the season.

Polson - 2 - 1 — 3
Libby - 0 - 1 — 1

POLSON — Grace Rehbein (Marissa Binder), 21:00; Sara Robinson (Olivia Hart), 29:00; Annie Berster (penalty kick), 60:00

LIBBY — Callan Peel (Sarah Nash), 54:00

Shots — Polson 17, Libby 5
Goalie saves — Polson 4 (Monica Cleveland 4), Libby 14 (Rebecca Kyriss 14)
Corners – Polson 4, Libby 2
Fouls – Polson 0, Libby 1
Cards — Libby, 1 yellow