Loggers push through losses, seek improvement
Libby senior Elijah Smith grabs the save on an attempted goal during the Loggers’ loss to Belgrade Saturday. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
With the Belgrade defenders closing in, Libby’s Moxley Roesler-Begalke — a senior at Troy High School — makes an attempt at the Panther’s goal during the Loggers’ loss to Belgrade Saturday. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
The Libby High School boys soccer team faced two losses this weekend to Park (7-1) and Belgrade (10-1), but still scored against both teams despite dealing with teams that gave them few opportunities to get control of the ball on Friday and Saturday.
Despite the tougher Belgrade team, the Loggers did better with taking control of the ball from the Panthers on Saturday than they did with the Rangers on Friday.
Libby Head Coach Jeff Zwang said the team is showing improvement with each game they play.
“I see them implement what we’re talking about, what we’re working on, but it takes time,” he said. “Some of it is developing new skills for each of them, and it just takes time to work on that.”
In the Friday game against the Rangers, Zwang said he felt the score alone did not reflect how well the Loggers performed.
“It was much more organized defensively, and that’s one of the things we’re working on,” he said.
Park and Belgrade gave the Loggers plenty of opportunity to work on their defense, and Libby’s goal keepers had a kind of trial by fire under the onslaughts of both teams.
Zwang said that he has several players who are willing to rotate in as goalkeeper, but no dedicated or experienced player for that position.
“It’s a very difficult position. It’s a different animal,” he said. “It’s the most specialized position in soccer. And, other than that, it’s the one where your mistakes get punished.”
Zwang said he has no criticism for the players who are willing to step up and take the responsibility of a position where even the smallest mistake has so much impact on the game.
The Loggers have several skilled players who distinguished themselves on the field against Park and Belgrade, breaking free with the ball to make attempts to score at various points.
Yet, with the heavy pressure the other teams were able to exert, the shots the Loggers managed were often rushed and went wide.
With a number of players being asked to play unfamiliar positions and the team overall working on communication and organization, there is still work to be done and it can go up and down, Zwang said.
“That’s still something we need to strengthen and build on, that teamwork, that organization, the ability to shut down space in our defensive areas and open up space in our attacking areas,” he said. “It’s a lot easier said than done.”
Still, Zwang said he has seen growth already in teamwork three games into the season. He also gave praise to the older players on the team who have stepped up as leaders.
“They’re getting out there, they’re helping their teammates, they’re showing them how to do things, and they’re showing them a good example too,” he said.
And though he said he knows they may get frustrated at times when they are down against a superior opponent, they still give the effort to the end.
“They’re playing hard until the last whistle,” he said. “And that’s the most I can ask of them, is to go out there and give it their all every match, and to try to improve every match.”