Libby boys soccer looks to build on last season's success

After finishing the season in the second round of 2015 playoffs, the Libby Loggers boys soccer team is looking to play deeper in the post season this year under second-year head coach Mark Petersen.

“That’s our goal, to make it to the playoffs and go further than we did the season before, which we did,” Petersen said.

Libby’s 2015 run, 7-4-1 in the regular season, ended in a heart-breaking playoff game by penalty kicks in double overtime to Polson. Libby finished second in the conference behind Polson.

The 2016 boys soccer side currently carries 20 Loggers after the first week at practice. Petersen said the team has a strong senior corps, as well as a promising fleet of freshmen coming into the high school program for the first time. The team is thin in juniors and sophomores, he said, but the current team plays well together in the 4-4-2 formation Petersen plans to employ on the field this fall.

“We’re really heavy on upper classmen and lower classmen, but they comliment each other,” Petersen said. “After the first week there’s no injuries, just moving the ball well.”

Petersen said combination passing will be key for that 4-4-2 formation that’s designed to spread the offense and create gaps on the field.

“It gives us the width, we have dedicated wingbacks then that are on that outside line,” Petersen said. “It just makes the field bigger for us.”

Leading the team will be a few familiar faces from the senior players, including Cody Wood, Collin Maloney and Giovanni Cano. Wood is a returning high school all-star forward. Petersen is confident he will be voted all-star again this season. Maloney, Petersen said, is tireless; like having an extra player on the field. The third man Petersen expects will take a role model position on the team will be Giovanni Cano, who is more of a constructive leader on the field.

With a handful of on-field directors and support from the team, Petersen believes this year’s team can make a successful post-season run.

“Especially this year, with this senior class,” he said. “We want them to succeed the best they can and contribute to the team. Those guys that will be playing their last season, we want them to have the best they can have.”

While the middle of the Logger pack is pretty thin on personnel, Petersen said this year’s big group of freshmen will have to build the skills to fill out the team next year. He also said he expects another large batch of incoming freshmen next year, as club soccer continues to grow in popularity with the Libby comunity.

Looking at the season ahead, Petersen said Columbia Falls and Polson will be the teams to watch. Columbia Falls is expected to do well under second-year skipper O’Brien Byrd, who coached the Whitefish Bulldogs to four state championships before taking over the Wildcat program.

“They were pretty strong last year, and I imagine they’re going to be pretty good this year,” Petersen said.

But before taking the pitch against any conference foes, the Libby Loggers boys soccer squad will face Stevensville on Friday at home. Petersen said Stevensville should be a great season-opening test for the Loggers, and he has known the Yellowjackets’ coach for years as a soccer-central figure in the Bitterroot Valley.

“He’s been their coach for a long time, so they’re always good,” he said.

The season opener against Stevensville starts at 2 p.m. at Logger Stadium following the girls’ match at noon.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.