The Liberty Bell High School girls’ soccer team’s drive to reach the state finals was once again thwarted by perennial nemesis St. George’s, as the Mountain Lions fell to the Dragons, 3-0, in the district playoffs.
“We went into the St. George’s match with the motto, ‘What we do, we do together,’ and they played an outstanding match,” said Liberty Bell coach Katie Overbeck. “We held St. George’s scoreless through the first 25 minutes,” the result of a defensive strategy adjustment pulling an extra player in the midfield area.
The Mountain Lions had one incursion into the Dragon net that would have been the first career goal for junior forward Nina Kominak, but an off-sides call on the play nullified the tally.
Overbeck called it “the best-played match yet” by the Mountain Lions. “That’s how it should be,” said the second-year coach, “peaking at the end of the season.”
The Mountain Lions finished the regular season at 6-3, then went 1-3 in the playoffs, opening with a victory over Pateros, then losing the final three matches. They say goodbye to 10 seniors: Wyatt Albright, Amelia Bondi, Jess Dinham, Stella Gitchos, McKenna Kurtz, Mariah Lucy, Sophia Newton, Elka Wathen, Maisie Shaw and Chloe Sprauer.
Volleyball
The Mountain Lions’ 2021 season came to a close on Nov. 2 in the first round of District 6 tournament play as the Brewster Bears swept Liberty Bell in three sets, 25-12, 25-21. 25-19.
It was the culmination of the high school volleyball careers for six Mountain Lion seniors: Jadyn Mitchell, Caitlyn Cooley, Joslyn Rispone, Shae Taylor, Elanna Doran and Hazel Culpsmith.
Liberty Bell finished the 2021 season in fifth place in the North Central Washington 2B League with a 3-6 regular season league record.
