Logger teams experience brief playoff runs

Both Libby soccer teams overachieved this year, making playoffs. Unfortunately, that first round was where both seasons ended.

The girls battled with a testy Whitefish team they had seen twice already this year and held them scoreless for 33 minutes before the floodgates opened.

Libby ultimately lost 8-0, with three goals scored by Megan Danczyk, one of the best players in the state.

Whitefish took 43 shots and Danni Hawthorne and Rebecca Kyriss had 20 saves for the Lady Loggers.

Sophomore utility player Shyla Stevens helped keep the Lady Bulldogs at bay until she tore her ACL, threatening the three-sport athlete’s other activities.

“It was her first year playing soccer,” said head coach Joe Cik. “She’s a tremendous athlete and was doing a great job stopping them up the middle. She’s a star track and basketball player…I feel terrible.”

With Stevens out, Whitefish had a new avenue of approach and was able to pour in goals.

Libby will graduate starters keeper/defender Kyriss, defender Breanna Opland, strikers Elly Webster and Sarah Nash. The ladies finished with a 2-7-3 record.

The boys team had a much closer match, but still fell 1-0 to the Bigfork Vikings. The loss was Libby’s (4-6-3) second to Bigfork this season, the third match was a tie.

“We played well, especially in the first half,” said head coach Charlie Webster. “We had lots of opportunities in the last 15 minutes, but the shots didn’t fall.”

Webster said the team was disappointed, but still pleased for reaching playoffs. With three ties and two close losses, Libby could have as easily been 9-4 had some shots gone their way.

“Almost doesn’t cut it in soccer,” Webster said. “We were disappointed but satisfied, if that makes sense.”

The winner of the play-in game got to face Stevensville at home. That was a match Libby had already won, opening the season with a 3-0 win over the Yellowjackets.

Libby graduates keeper Austin Nagle, defender Jake Reny and midfielders Jeremy Helmrick and Juan Rios.