HAMILTON - Polson has historically started off the fall season slow in boys' soccer, but they are already on the right foot with a 2-2 tie in Hamilton on Tuesday, Aug. 31.

"My teams traditionally start the season slow and then improve over the course of the season," Kittle said. "This is the first time in my high school coaching career that one of my teams did not start the season with a loss."

It was a tall task for the Pirates too. Hamilton had gone undefeated in the regular season last year before two losses were given to them for using ineligible players.

Trailing 2-1 in the second half after Hamilton's Daymon Halstead scored in the 56th minute, James Larson scored the chest-to-volley equalizer goal for Polson in the 75th minute. That put Polson even with less than five minutes to go.

"We were pushing up field to try to collect a game tying goal, the Hamilton defense tried to clear the ball but it went right to James Larson who took the ball off his chest and the ball bounced on the ground twice and he struck a driven ball right into the upper right corner of the goal," Kittle said.

"It felt nice to come out with a tie, it was Hamilton's third game and our first," Larson said. "They are a good team and it felt nice to not lose."

Polson hung on for the tie, after they had started the game down 1-0 thanks to an early goal by Hamilton.

"Hamilton scored first when we had a defensive communication breakdown," Kittle said. "Hamilton made a couple nice passes and got past our back line and slotted the shot past our keeper."

The Pirates' other goal came off a huge punt by keeper Clay "The Falcon" Frissell, coupled with pressure by Larson, that forced Hamilton's sweeper to try and head it to the keeper.

The ball went through the keeper's hands and into the goal.

"The Hamilton keeper was coming out to collect the ball but their defenders were recovering back to the ball and James Larson was right behind the Hamilton sweeper. The Hamilton sweeper felt that his only chance at getting to the ball before James got to it was to try and head the ball back to his own keeper, but he headed it too hard and it hit off the keepers hands and went into the Hamilton goal,"Kittle said. "Even though [Clay] and James don't get any credit for that goal, they were both instrumental in the score."

Larson said he had an effect on the goal, with 80 percent being their defense/keeper and 20 percent being the pressure he put on them. Hamilton outshot Polson 17-13, and had the slight edge in corner kicks 4-3, but Polson played a more physical brand of soccer.

"Hamilton played a very good game, using some good passing to keep possession of the ball but I liked what I saw from our team, especially since this was our first game of the season," Kittle said.

Polson now has a 10-day break in between games. They'll host Park on Saturday, Sept. 10.

POLSON 2, HAMILTON 2

Polson - 1 - 1 - 2

Hamilton - 1 - 1 - 2

Polson stats - Shots on Goal (13). Keeper

Saves (13). Corner Kicks (3). Fouls (11).

Scorers - James Larson (75th)