Vikings soccer team falls to Polson after strong start

The Bigfork boys soccer team faced

Polson for the first time this season on Thursday, and in an away

match led 1-0 at halftime before falling 4-2 to their Northwest A

opponents.

“This was a match we were in until very

late, a first for us this season facing a quality opponent in the

Pirates,” said Bigfork head boys soccer coach Keith Koslosky.

Bigfork freshman Kyle Thomson got the

scoring started with a successful penalty kick in the third

minute.

Although the Vikings held onto the lead

through halftime, the Pirates were able to score just three minutes

into the second half.

“We came out somewhat sluggish in the

second half as Polson consistently beat us to balls we were winning

earlier,” Koslosky said.

Polson added goals in the 52nd minute

and the 57th minute before any Bigfork players were able to score

again.

In the 61st minute Thomson again found

the back of the net, this time off an assist from junior Austin

Gordon.

“Kyle Thomson kept it close with his

second goal from a beautiful feed from Austin Gordon in behind the

Polson defense,” Koslosky said. “Additional bright spots include

the play of Caleb Mathwig turning in his finest performance to

date. Austin Bunyea remains solid, as does Anthony Fopp, Matt

Killian and Austin Gordon, with Gordon turning in three consecutive

strong performances.”

The Pirates were awarded a penalty kick

in the 62nd minute, which they made to seal the win.

“Our defense struggled, as indicated by

the score, with Polson scoring four times in the second half,”

Koslosky said.

Polson took 22 shots on Bigfork’s goal,

while the Vikes took just three shots on theirs. Bigfork’s

goalkeeper, Dillon Hilling, was not credited with any saves. The

Pirates’s keeper made 10.

After being down a few players the

previous week, the Vikings are beginning to get the remainder of

their roster back. For the first time this season, sophomore Bryce

MacCallum played injury free in Polson. Additionally, Jorge Zavala

was back on the field. However, Tyler Zavala remains unavailable

due to an injury.

Despite the setbacks, Koslosky is still

seeing improvements in his players as they continue in the hunt for

their first win of the season.

“In this match against a quality

opponent, the team performed to a new level,” Koslosky said. “There

were glimpses of what this team is capable of when they decide to

play as a team with intensity and focus. I look forward to the

remainder of the season to see if the team can build from this

experience. I believe they can and will.”

Next up

The Vikings played Stillwater Christian

School in an away game Tuesday. The results of that competition

will be in next week’s Eagle.

On Saturday, Bigfork hosts Whitefish

for its Homecoming game. The Vikings will take on the Bulldogs at

noon at Carlyle Johnson Field.