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The team!
The team!
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CORE Soccer Closes Season with 2-0 Win Over Loyalton, Finishes 3rd in League

The CORE Butte soccer team ended their Pioneer League season on a high note Thursday afternoon, shutting out Loyalton 2–0 at home to claim third place in the standings. Dozens from the community gathered on the sidelines to watch the team’s final match of the year, cheering on a group that has grown noticeably stronger throughout the season.

Moments before the first PK…

CORE struck first midway through the opening half when a penalty kick found the back of the net at the 25th minute. The Lynx kept pressure on Loyalton’s defense with multiple close shots before halftime, leading 1-0 at the break. Loyalton’s attack tested CORE’s defense a few times, but the back line held firm.

In the second half, CORE doubled their lead after a deflected shot bounced off a Loyalton player and into the goal. The game took a dramatic turn minutes later when junior Carsten Balint, CORE’s starting goalie, was given a red card for a foul on an advancing Loyalton attacker. That forced sophomore Josh Iler to step in as goalkeeper, a position he hadn’t played in a while. Loyalton missed the ensuing penalty kick, and Josh later made a clutch save to help preserve the shutout. Players on the sidelines called it “cinematic.”

Carsten reflected on the play after the game, saying, “The defensive line didn’t draw back and I wasn’t sure what to really do, so I made the decision to try to play the ball and took a guy out. It’s something to learn from for next season, but I’m just glad it didn’t cost us any goals.”

…and after. The first goal, scored by Senior Adrik Dyer

Head Coach Chris Spears commented on the moment as well: “The goalie came out aggressively. He should know better. As the last man, he can’t commit himself to that because, like you saw, it can backfire. We’ve been working on it, and he can be aggressive, but sometimes too aggressive.”

With this victory, CORE Butte closed out their season with a 6-8 overall record (5-4 league) and a playoff finish in the top three of the Pioneer League.

Great job to the team for this great season, and a special thank you goes out to seniors Ashlynn Hayes, Brianna Hayes, and Adrik Dyer for their leadership and dedication to CORE Butte soccer throughout the year.

Go Lynx!

The second and final goal, shot by Senior Brianna Hayes, and deflected off a Loyalton player.
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