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