In only the second year of its existence, the Thompson Falls-Plains-St. Regis Hawks girls soccer team is already making noise with a push towards a possible playoff spot. Stringing together three straight wins – the last two last week with a sweep of Libby, 2-0 in Libby Tuesday and 4-1 at Amundson Complex in Plains’ homecoming game Thursday – leaves coach Nick Lawyer and his Hawks nipping at Bigfork’s heels for the fourth and final spot from the Northwest A conference.

The Hawks improved their league record to 4-4-0, drawing within a game of the Vals for fourth place as the season winds down. The Hawks and Vals will be able to settle this playoff issue on the field as TF-P-SR, after hosting Whitefish Thursday for senior night in Thompson Falls will close out regular season play with their final game at Bigfork Friday.

The first round of the playoffs begin October 13 and end October 18.

Very proud of his team’s continuing play, Lawyer said his girls have learned how to dig a little deeper as they have grown to learn to play with each other. “We had to adapt, grind, and push through against Libby both games,” he said, “but our captains stepped up and the whole squad rallied around them. I couldn’t be prouder.”

In Libby Tuesday, the Hawks broke open a scoreless battle late in the game.

In the match’s 70th minute, Lawyer said, Solveig Nygaard found Katherine Wrobleski with a fine pass down the right side and Wrobleski read the pass, eluded her defender and knocked in the goal inside of the far post to give the Hawks their first score.

Wrobleski then converted a penalty kick a few minutes later to produce the final scoring in the TF-P-SR’s 2-0 victory. Lawyer said the leadership and goals-out play of Ava Lawyer in goal was also a factor in the Hawks’ big win in Libby.

Coach Lawyer said the Libby game Thursday had an intensified aura, a festival-like feel, with a large crowd, and the “buzz of homecoming” in the air.

As usual this season, Nygaard and Wrobleski played lead roles for the Hawks, this time teaming up for the game’s first goal, a fine header shot by Solveig off a nice corner kick pass from Katherine.

Only moments later, Hawk teammate Eliabeth Wiedemann forced a turnover, Wrobleski pounced on it, controlled the ball and drove in to score another goal to make it 2-0.

Ava Lawyer then made the defensive play of the game in goal for the Hawks, first making a save with her feet and then off the rebound shot by another Libby player in the same sequence, diving to catch the ball on that shot just short of the net which looked like a certain goal.

After Libby finally scored their first goal after almost two full games of being shut down by the Hawks, Wrobleski finished things nicely with the game’s last two goals, one off an assist from Elsie Myers, in the Hawks’ 4-1 win.

Coach Lawyer said the Hawks had 27 shots on goal compared to 15 for Libby in the two games, and that the Hawks put 16 on target to Libby’s 10. He credited Wrobleski, Nygaard and Ava Lawyer for being great leaders as team captains.

“If one theme emerged from the Libby series, it was the leadership of the Hawks’ three captains,” he said, “each filling a unique niche that together defines the team’s culture.”

He called Worbleski “a creator and a pure scorer,” Nygaard an unmatched defensive presence (“Solveig defends every blade of grass, and she never wants to come off the field,” he said. “She’s our engine.”) and daughter Ava the rock that the Hawks rely on (“She makes everyone feel safe,” he said. “Ava’s a leader who supports the attack and anchors the defense.”).

Coach Lawyer added that his three captains have played together for years, and their chemistry has helped build a foundation for the younger players to grow into.

He added that he hoped for a big crowd in Thompson Falls Thursday for senior night as the Hawks continue to play meaningful soccer games deep into the season. Nygaard, Hailey Roofener, Melodie Cook, Kate Bonnington and Didi Phares are the seniors for Thompson Falls-Plains-St. Regis.

    PLAINS HOMESCHOOL STUDENT Katherine Wrobleski (21) battles a Libby Logger player for possession of the ball during the Hawks’ 4-1 win over Libby in Plains Thursday. Wrobleski scored three goals in the game. (John Hamilton/VP-MI)