POLSON - Libby may have won the state championship in soccer,

but let it be known that they didn't beat Polson this year. The

Pirates made it to the semi-finals of the Class A soccer playoffs

thanks to a brick-wall defense, a midfield that allowed the ball to

flow and forwards that attacked.

POLSON - Libby may have won the state championship in soccer, but let it be known that they didn't beat Polson this year. The Pirates made it to the semi-finals of the Class A soccer playoffs thanks to a brick-wall defense, a midfield that allowed the ball to flow and forwards that attacked.

"I really think that we had the best defense in the state," head coach Jess Kittle said.

It was that defense that helped Polson, which had won the spring state championship, weather a slow start to the fall season. Polson went scoreless in their first four games and was staring down a 1-0 deficit at halftime in their fifth match against Whitefish.

"Our defense really kept us in those games," Kittle said. "Except for our first game against Stillwater [a 2-0 loss], I don't remember any other game when the opposing team scored more than one goal against us."

Then the Pirates came alive. They scored two goals in the second half against Whitefish for the 2-1 victory and carried that momentum over to an undefeated 7-0-1 conference record. They won the Northwestern A championship thanks largely to a core group of guys that committed a lot of time, sweat and blood to soccer.

"The senior leadership was great this season," Kittle said.

Team captians Sean Hart and Trever Moll were instrumenal in the midfield and forward positions, showing off a polished passing game that the Pirates take pride in.

"Sean and Trever communicate very well," Kittle said.

The high flying Moll could be seen going airborne several times during the season in front of the opposing goal, and usually paying for it with his body.

"He doesn't care what happens to him, he just wants to get to the ball," Kittle said.

Seniors Marcus Corley and John Walk battled with injuries during the season but still found a way to make an impact out on the field.

"We try to prove we're the most conditioned team in Montana," Corley, who was hampered by a groin injury, said.

Kittle said that Corley would have played on half a leg if he had to.

Walk was playing his first season of high school soccer and while getting injured, still fought through the slow season start with his teammates.

"Those first few games were brutal," he said.

However, things changed and Polson eventually knocked off Libby on their home field 2-1 at the end of the regular season to clinch the conference championship.

Polson tied and defeated the eventual state champions this year.

"It felt great, it was exhilarating to beat Libby on their own turf," Walk said.

Polson allowed just three goals in their entire Northwest A slate.

"Our philosophy was aggressive," Walk said. "It was very defense-minded but it was very aggressive."

Speaking of an aggressive defense, senior defender and midfielder Jake Bash got his first career goal in a 6-0 victory over Bigfork during the season.

"It was good to see him get that goal," Kittle, who pointed out last year was his first year of soccer, said. "He came out and was ready to do anything he could do."

Kittle said that this was the best team he's coached and it's easy to see why.

Opposing teams never had a clear shot at the goal as they were always marked by a speedy and smart defense.

"I trust [junior defender] Nick Howell, I trust him to play smart," Kittle said. "I trust him to recover and take the ball away."

Juniors Riley Lemm, Jon Murphy and Caden von Wildenradt also made up an amazing defensive corps that never gave an inch.

"All those guys back there are amazing," Kittle said.

Starting with their conditioning boot camp before the season called "The County Fair" and continuing on throughout the season, the work ethic of this team was unbeatable and it showed out on the field.

"I'm really happy with out team," Corley said. "I'm happy to say I was on this team."

Next year, the Pirates might spread those guys around the field and use their speed and skills in an offensive manner.

"I'm going to have to push some of these defenders up," Kittle said.

As for getting ready for the upcoming spring season, practices start at the end of January.

"It's not very far away," Kittle said. "We only have a couple of months."