Call it escape from Thompson Falls.

Following a tradition of close games between these teams in past years, the Libby Loggers notched a tight 3-2 win over the Thompson Falls-Plains-St. Regis (or TFPSR) Blue Hawks at Previs Field in Thompson Falls Friday.

Up this week for coach Nick Lawyer and his Hawks are matches at Whitefish Tuesday and at Bigfork Saturday.

Lawyer said the Hawks started slow against Libby and it cost them in the end. “We gave Libby too much respect and too much space,” he said. “They got into the game early and pressed high and aggressively.”

Libby scored the game’s first goal and then added another on a penalty kick to take a 2-0 lead.

TFPSR got on the board before halftime when Chloe Bedick of Plains scored off a fine throw ball from Kylee Huff of Thompson Falls to make the score 2-1 Libby at halftime.

Although many on the TFPSR side felt there was a foul on the play, Libby soon made the score 3-1 on a hotly disputed goal from in front of the net.

With time winding down and the Hawks still trailing, Lawyer said Chloe Bedick forced a turnover and passed the ball to a streaking Shelby Harmon, and Harmon, an eighth grader from Thompson Falls, scored from the left side, kicking in the goal off the opposite post to make the score 3-2 Libby, and the game would end that way.

Lawyer felt Ginger Nestor, a freshman from Plains, was the player of the game for the Hawks. “Despite giving away a penalty, she was dominant everywhere,” Lawyer said. “She made incredible defensive stops, was dribbling into the midfield and delivering nice attacking balls. She was a good leader, her throwing-ins were dangerous, she was aggressive and relentless.”

Lawyer said the offense provided by young players Bedick and Harmon in the midfield was also a welcome development, as the team continues to look to rebuild in that area after the loss of their entire midfield last year.

Defensively, coach Lawyer said keeper Ava Lawyer enjoyed another fine outing, making 14 saves against Libby.

He was encouraged by what he saw from his entire team against the Lady Loggers. “On a different night with different calls around the field,” he said, “I think we win this game. To me it shows us we are still competitive, even though we are rebuilding.”