Pirates struggle to score in pair of road losses
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LIVINGSTON — The Pirates suffered a pair of 1-0 losses on a road trip through Belgrade and Livingston over the weekend and still haven’t scored a goal in the young season, but their coach says rest assured the goals are coming.
After watching his team just miss opportunities in shutout losses to Belgrade Friday and Park Saturday, Polson coach Jess Kittle is confident that the ball is going to start finding the back of the net for the Pirates.
“We’re so close, we’re right on the cusp,” Kittle said. Against Park Saturday, Kittle had to watch six or seven scoring chances taken away because the Pirate attacker was just a hair offsides.
“The attacker was just a step too quick or the pass was just a second too slow,” Kittle said. “We’re just a step away.”
Against Belgrade Friday, the Panthers scored on a free kick 16 minutes into the second half. Bill DeBuse chipped the ball over the Pirate defender and Panther striker Guilherme Ferreira just got a toe on it to put it by Pirate goalkeeper Clay Frissell.
Kittle said that the Pirate passing had improved from their opening 2-0 loss to Stillwater Christian, but they still need to get more shots on goal. The Panthers doubled up the Pirates on shots on, outshooting them 16-to-8.
In a physical match against Park, where the two teams combined for 27 fouls, Park scored on a header during the 48th minute. On a narrow field, 6-foot-4 Clint Robbins headed a ball in on a throw in.
“Park has a narrow field, much like Libby’s home field, and if you have a guy that can throw the ball a long way he is able to get it right into the scoring zone and that is what they did against us,” Kittle said.
The game was played on a more even tilt Saturday, with Park just outshooting Polson 9-to-7. Frissell made six saves and Park goalkeeper Kyle Lavendar made seven.
Kittle said that the Pirates are too worried about making the perfect shot from up close and he would like to see them fire more shots and be more accurate.
“Good things happen when you keep your shots on frame,” Kittle said.
If the offense can get it going, Polson will be a very formidable team. Their defense has a 1.33 goal against average in their three games.
The Pirates open conference play by hosting Libby Thursday and travel to Whitefish for another conference game Saturday.
Summary
Belgrade 1, Polson 0
Polson 0 0–0
Belgrade 0 1–1
B - Guilherme Ferreira (Bill DeBuse) 66:00
Park 1, Polson 0
Polson 0 0–0
Park 0 1–1
Park - Clinton Robbins 48:00
