MISSOULA — The new girl wearing No. 11 enjoyed a slice of heaven in her first home match for the Missoula Loyola soccer team Saturday.

Emerson Laird may be an eighth grader, but you'd never know by her advanced skills and athleticism as a 5-foot-9 striker/midfielder. Together with two other eighth graders, a capable freshman keeper and a welcoming group of experienced upperclassmen, she's going to help make the Breakers into a resurgent force this season.

Laird scored three goals and senior Kellan Miller added one in sparking Loyola to a 4-0 win over Libby Saturday afternoon at Rollin Field. The Breakers are off to a 2-0 start and have outscored their opponents, 9-1.

"It feels good to start the season off like this," ninth-year Loyola coach Stephanie Reardon said. "We have a great group of seniors leading our team and a bunch of players ready to put in the work. It's been coming together." 

It's been three years since the Breakers made the eight-team State A tournament field and they're hungry to end that dry spell. An increase in numbers will help this season — even if it's just a small increase — and having a dangerous scorer with a lot of club experience like Laird changes everything.

"All the girls are so nice and positive and energetic," Laird said of her warm welcome to the team. "All the center backs are amazing. Drew (Lamb) and Avery (Lecholat) are such nice seniors, Sylvie (Von Doersten) and Kellan (Miller) are great.

"I love everyone on the team, super positive and kind. We had a good day today and we should keep setting those balls (on the attack), because they're working a lot. Me personally, I need to work on my first touch a little bit more."

Lecholat, who like Laird has extensive club soccer experience, likes the chemistry her team has developed in a short time.

"We've actually never played before on a club team together because of our age difference," Lecholat said of Laird, "but I have loved playing the midfield role this year. Having Emmy, who is strong and fast, I look up and she's there every single time.

"I have practiced a lot getting those balls over to that perfect spot and I'm happy Emmy is on the end of those."

The start of Saturday's match was somewhat surprising because Libby (1-2) possessed the ball on Loyola's half of the pitch for most of the first 15 minutes. Reardon explained that her team was working on its defense and patience.

"We were going through the back and taking it up the field," she said. "We waited for our opportunities instead of being impatient."

Lamb noted that a change in midfield strategy helped change the early trend. That and goals by Laird and Miller on the counter attack that gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at halftime.

"Having that stronger midfield helps a lot on the back line, being able to cover for one another," said Lamb, a center back who is in her fourth season in the Breakers' lineup. "Then having a great goalkeeper like Hattie (Taylor), who is real vocal and telling us where we need to be covering, is helpful too."

The ultimate goal for the Breakers is to earn a state berth this fall. It's not an easy chore with teams like Hamilton, Stevensville and Corvallis standing in their way in the South Division.

But maybe, just maybe, the Breakers have what it takes to break through.

"The experience going to state is so much fun — even making it to the first round," Lecholat said of playing on the 2021 Loyola team that reached the state quarterfinals. "I'd be very grateful to get there this year."