Polson girls soccer closes strong season at 7-4-4

The Polson Lady Pirates saw their soccer season come to a heartbreaking conclusion in the postseason, but the final result did little to diminish a fall defined by a renewed sense of confidence in the program.

Polson finished the 2026 campaign with a 7-4-4 record, falling to Stevensville in a playoff matchup that remained scoreless through regulation and double overtime before the Yellowjackets prevailed 3-1 in a penalty-kick shootout on Oct. 13.

Anna Fansher converted Polson's penalty kick, but Stevensville ultimately advanced, bringing the Lady Pirates' season to an end.

"We were proud of how hard the girls played, and we will be building off of our momentum and growth this season as we look forward to next year," said Heather Howell, Polson Head Soccer Coach. 

While the postseason defeat was a difficult way to finish, Howell pointed to the strides her team made throughout the fall, particularly in developing a culture of accountability and collective leadership.

"I think one of the biggest things that stands out this year is the growth in leadership across our team," Howell said. "We have had numerous girls really step up, take ownership, and help hold each other accountable."

That leadership extended well beyond the team's veteran players and captains.

"It's not just about our captains or seniors—players throughout the entire team have found ways to lead," Howell said. "Starters, reserves, injured players, managers - we have had collective leadership that has been a really positive part of our season and overall direction of our program."

One of the defining moments of the season, Howell recalled, came during an earlier road contest against Stevensville — the same opponent that Polson would eventually meet in the postseason. After playing to a scoreless first half, the Lady Pirates regrouped at halftime. What happened next left a lasting impression on their coach.

"We talked about ownership and playing for each other at halftime, and the energy that the team came out with in the second half was palpable," Howell said. "It was a collective energy from our reserves, injured players, and manager that completely energized the players on the field in the second half."

For Howell, the moment demonstrated that Polson's success would depend on more than the 11 players competing on the field, and it resulted in a 2-0 victory.

"It showed the power of the team as an entire unit, and it was neat to see the players recognize that and experience it themselves," she said.

That commitment to teamwork also translated into Polson's style of play.

"One of our biggest strengths is our ability to move the ball. When we are playing soccer, we are creating opportunities through teamwork," Howell said. "We have a lot of versatile players playing multiple positions and allows us to make adjustments." 

The team's upperclassmen were particularly important in establishing expectations and setting the tone for the younger players. Howell credited their leadership with helping elevate the standard of Lady Pirate soccer, something she believes will continue benefiting the program beyond this season.

"Our biggest challenge in the postseason will be managing the pressure and excitement that comes with postseason play," said Howell, before the playoffs. "Since every game carries more weight, it is easy to get caught up in the outcome."

Those challenges were evident in the season finale against Stevensville, where neither side could break through during regulation or the two overtime periods. Although the Yellowjackets ultimately prevailed in the shootout, the Lady Pirates' ability to battle through a scoreless playoff contest and continue to compete was evident.

Beyond the victories and the team's 7-4-4 finish, Howell said the continued development of the program has been a shared effort involving players, coaches and families.

"I would like to thank my coaching staff and our players' families for their consistency and commitment to our program to help grow the Lady Pirate soccer program," Howell said. "I want them to know how appreciated they all are!"

With the season now complete, the Lady Pirates turn their attention toward building on the progress made this fall