Girls Soccer: Lady Loggers rout Whitefish, 5-1

Alone at the top.

The Libby High School girls soccer team finds itself in that position after an impressive 5-1 victory Saturday at Whitefish. The Lady Loggers dominated from the start with a potent offensive attack and a no-budge defensive effort.

“They just came out strong and played a beautiful game of soccer,” Libby coach Matt Warner said. “They finished well and took control of the game; it was pretty amazing. I wasn’t expecting that but I was really happy.”

Anna Valentine recorded a hat trick and Jaime Gilden added two more in a memorable performance. Libby scored twice over the first 15 minutes and built a 4-0 advantage by halftime.

Gilden scored in the eighth minute on a free kick. Then in the 15th minute, Valentine got her first on a feed from Jessica Shaw. Libby went up 3-0 on another Valentine goal – this one unassisted from six yards out. And the lead increased to 4-0 two minutes before halftime on a Valentine corner kick that the Whitefish keeper got her hands on but curved into the net.

“The defense did a great job because they had some speed up front,” Warner said. “The defense did a good job of clearing balls out. Jessica Shaw and LaRona Luscher had a great game.”

Libby’s final goal came in the 62nd minute on a shot by Gilden. Valentine got the assist.

Whitefish avoided the shutout with a goal in the 75th minute. Libby’s Audra Poppen had a dozen saves in the victory.

At Bonners Ferry on Saturday, the Lady Loggers posted a 4-1 victory. Valentine scored twice and Ashley Shaw and Gilden also found the net in the nonconference victory.

Libby led 2-0 at halftime on goals by Valentine and Shaw. Valentine scored in the 33rd minute with an assist to Gilden while Shaw found the net unassisted in the final minute of the half.

Libby established dominance right away in the second half by taking a 3-0 lead on Valentine’s second goal in the 42nd minute. Twelve minutes later, Gilden scored with an assist to Poppen, who was moved up front out of goal. Poppen shared time with Jenny Johnson in net.

Bonners Ferry finally broke through and scored in the 76th minute.

Libby (4-0 in league, 7-0 overall) was scheduled to play at home against Columbia Falls on Tuesday in a game after presstime. The Loggers will host Bigfork on Saturday at 11 a.m.