Wildcats atop Frontier League with wins over Spring Hill, Topeka

Louisburg senior Treston Carlson reacts to scoring the golden goal in overtime last Tuesday during the Wildcats’ win over Spring Hill. The Wildcats lead the league with one match to go.

Last week was important for the Louisburg soccer team, especially when it came to one of their goals – a league title.

Tuesday’s match with Spring Hill was going to tell which team was going to have the upper-hand when it came to the Frontier League crown as both Louisburg and Spring Hill were tied atop the standings.

Louisburg got a pair of dramatic goals from senior Treston Carlson as the Wildcats rallied to force overtime and get a 2-1 victory over the Broncos at Spring Hill High School. That gave the Wildcats a game lead on the Broncos in the league standings and can clinch the title outright with a win over Piper later this week.

The Wildcats (11-1) followed that up with a 3-1 win over Topeka High at home on Thursday as the Louisburg has set itself up for a memorable postseason run.

“Thursday is going to be a tough game against a very scrappy Piper squad,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “They play with a lot of energy and passion and it will be important that we match that. It is crazy to think how fast the season has gone and that the playoffs will be here next week.

“We have done our job and set ourselves up nicely from our regular season record to where we will host until we lose or make the state final four. Our boys have earned that right by our record and our play. I am excited to see how this team does and what they can do in the postseason.”

Carlson helped the Wildcats get that top spot with his two goals against the Broncos as they had to rally from a late Spring Hill score to even force overtime.

Less than five minutes into the match, Louisburg caught a break as the Spring Hill goalkeeper was given a red card and the Broncos were forced to play a man down for the rest of the game.

Louisburg wasn’t able to capitalize on that as the match remained scoreless until three minutes left in the match when Spring Hill’s Hunter Williams ran through the Wildcat defense and scored to put the Broncos on top.

“They outworked us with 10 guys,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “We just did not play our game. They had to attack us and we let the ball bounce a few times. Spring Hill played with so much energy. They were the better team that night and we were fortunate to come away with a win.”

The Wildcats didn’t waste any time to respond as Carlson tied it up with a goal with 1 minute and 30 seconds left in the match to force overtime. Then in the extra period, junior Braden Yows sent the ball into the box and Carlson was there to tap it in for the game-winner.

Sophomore goalie Mack Newell punches a shot away during overtime of the Wildcats’ match with Spring Hill.

It was the fifth game-winning goal for Carlson on the season and he has provided the Wildcats with some big moments throughout the year.

“He has done a great job of being consistent for us up top and he is obviously a player that other teams need to pay attention too,” Conley said of Carlson. “He has developed his game so much the past two years and it is paying off for him. I think he is one of the best goal scorers, if not the best goal scorer in our league. He has handled the pressure the other teams are throwing at him and he has excelled.”

Louisburg also got same big saves from its defense as goalie Mack Newell turned away several shots before Williams’ goal to keep the Wildcats in it.

Unlike the slow start against Spring Hill, the Wildcats didn’t take long to get going against Topeka at home on Thursday.

The Wildcats got some help on the attack from its back line as defenders Michael Seuferling and Toby Espina-Roca both got involved in the offense.

To open the match, Carlson scored his third goal of the week, but was able to get it thanks to an assist from Espina-Roca to put the Wildcats up one. It was Seuferling’s turn next as he took a free kick and found the back of the net to put Louisburg up 2-0 at halftime over the Trojans.

Senior Ethan Showalter passes the ball over to a teammate Thursday during the Wildcats’ win over Topeka High.

“It was nice to see the defense getting into the attack a little more,” Conley said. “We changed how our defensive coverage normally would be and it allowed those boys to push a little bit further. Toby played a great ball in that allowed Treston to go get it with his head.

“As for Michael’s goal, he is usually our left footed option when we line up for our free kick. To be honest, his number hasn’t been called much because of where the ball is located on the free kick, but this one gave us the chance to let him have a shot and he didn’t disappoint.”

Sophomore Gavin York all but sealed the win for the Wildcats as he recorded his first varsity goal with a shot near the net and gave Louisburg its second victory on the week.

“I think the boys played well and did a nice job limiting Topeka High’s chances for a majority of the game,” Conley said. “They were a talented team and the majority of the game was played in the midfield, but I thought we did a nice job of controlling the tempo and keeping the game in front of us. We expended a massive amount of energy and did a nice job of executing our game plan.”




Week 6 Athlete of the Week: Cade Gassman

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week six of the fall sports season, sponsored by Edward Jones-Craig Holtzen.

CADE GASSMAN, SOPHOMORE, BOYS SOCCER

Louisburg sophomore Cade Gassman helped the Wildcats to a big road win at Eudora last week. Gassman scored two of the team’s four goals, and also added an assist. The Wildcat forward also had four shots on goal against Eudora and Spring Hill earlier in the week, and took 10 shots overall. On the season, Gassman has seven goals to go along with four assists.

The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the fall season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.

Previous winners:

Week 1: Weston Guetterman

Week 2: Lola Edwards

Week 3: Logan Faulkner

Week 4: Rinny McMullen

Week 5: Carson Houchen




Louisburg soccer bounces back from first loss to beat Eudora

Louisburg defender Michael Seuferling clears a ball out of the back during the Wildcats’ game last week against Spring Hill at the Wildcat Sports Complex.

The Louisburg boys soccer team was forced to do something that it hadn’t faced all season.

The Wildcats had to respond from a loss.

Louisburg suffered its first setback of the season last Tuesday when it hosted Spring Hill and fell in a close match, 2-1. It was a heartbreaking result in what was a back-and-forth match, but the Wildcats didn’t have time to sulk.

Eudora was next on the Wildcats’ schedule Thursday and they had to hit the road for that one. Louisburg found itself down in the opening minutes, but the Wildcats responded with four unanswered goals and left Eudora with a 4-1 victory.

“We wanted the Eudora match to be a statement game,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “We wanted to come out and show what type of team that we were and I think we did that. We played really well for about 77 minutes in that game. They boys moved the ball well and took what Eudora gave us. I was really excited how we performed and how the game went. I felt that the boys were able to set the tone and control the game from the start.

“We had one moment where we turned it off and their forward absolutely blasted a shot from 28 yards out. After that moment I think that we did really well and set the tempo. The boys did a great job.”

Following Eudora’s goal to start the match, the Wildcats went on a tear and it started with Hunter Rogers. The Louisburg junior scored to tie up the match and the Wildcats were able to control possession the rest of the way.

Sophomore Cade Gassman scored a pair of first half goals, including one on an assist from senior Treston Carlson to put the Wildcats up 2-1. Then shortly before halftime, Gassman scored again, this time on an assist from junior Braden Yows.

Junior Jaden Vohs wrapped up the Louisburg scoring in the second half with goal after an assist from Gassman.

Despite the early goal, the Wildcat defense held up strong and limited the Cardinals to just eight shots on the night.

As for Louisburg (9-1), the Wildcats put pressure on the Eudora defense all night as they took 23 shots – including six from Gassman. Sophomores Colin McManigal and Gavin York had four and three shots, respectively.

It was the performance the Wildcats were looking for after a difficult loss to Spring Hill, in what was a non-league matchup.

Despite controlling possession for much of the match and outshooting the Broncos 18-8, Spring Hill was able to top Louisburg with a goal in the final minutes.

With under two minutes remaining, the Wildcats were called for a foul just outside box, which led to a free kick and header that found the back of the net.

Louisburg’s Logan Faulkner goes up for a header with the Spring Hill goalie last week against Broncos.

“The first half we barely let them past midfield and we were just controlling play,” Conley said. “After halftime, I told the boys to keep pressing and then after while we just sat in and then we started kicking the ball around and not playing feet. We let them play their game and they are obviously better at playing their game than we are and they just got us.

“It was kind of on us. We had two mental breakdowns and they got two goals off of it and that was it. We outshot them, out possessed them and missed some easy looks near the goal. It is frustrating, but this gives us things that we need to improve on and get better.”

Going into the match, the Wildcats had 468 minutes of scoreless soccer and had five consecutive shutouts – which was a school record. They also set a school record with an eight game win streak to start the season.

Spring Hill broke both of those streaks after a scoreless first half. The Broncos found the back of the net early in the second half, but the Wildcats were able to respond just minutes later.

The Broncos were called for a foul in the box and Yows drove home the penalty kick to tie the match. From there, it was tied at 1-all until 1:47 left in the game when the Wildcats were called for a foul outside the box.

Spring Hill then sent the ball toward the goal and the Broncos were able to head it in for the game-winner.

“The boys were just executing so well the first 50 or 60 minutes of the game and they were executing the scouting report perfectly,” Conley said. “Both Spring Hill outside backs had yellow cards and I wanted them to attack the outside, but we stopped doing that. Spring Hill is probably the best team that we will see on our schedule.”

The Wildcats will try and get revenge tonight when they travel to Spring Hill in what is a Frontier League matchup and could determine who wins the league title. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m.




Wildcats remain perfect with wins over Baldwin, Tonganoxie

Louisburg sophomore Toby Espina-Roca holds off a Tonganoxie player last Tuesday during the Wildcats match at Tonganoxie High School.

The Louisburg boys soccer team hasn’t had to venture out on the road much so far this season, that was until this past week when the Wildcats had to travel to Baldwin and Tonganoxie.

Being away from home didn’t seem to bother the Wildcats. All they did was pick up a pair of victories that helped them stay undefeated on the season.

Last Tuesday, Louisburg earned a 2-0 result at Tonganoxie High School, and then two days later, did the same at Baldwin as the Wildcats shut out the Bulldogs, 2-0. The Wildcats are now 8-0 on the season as they continue to rack up wins in the Frontier League.

“It was good to get a couple road wins,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “Going to Tonganoxie and playing on the turf was interesting for us. We did really well, but some of the passes we get on grass, rolled out on turf. I do think we settled in nicely in the game and had some fantastic chances. Tonganoxie did do a very nice job in the midfield. Our backline played really well and made some key plays.

“As for Baldwin, I felt the boys played much better and controlled the majority of the game. We did a very nice job of setting the pace of the game and moving the ball.”

The Wildcats got out to a quick start against Tonganoxie as Louisburg got on the scoreboard in the first 10 minutes. Junior midfielder Braden Yows sent a pass toward the goal and senior forward Treston Carlson headed the ball to give the Wildcats an early lead.

“It was nice to see those two connect,” Conley said. “We have done a nice job with our service to the forwards and inside the 18. For the most part, we have done a very nice job finishing and capitalizing on our chances. That also set the tone and forced the game to change on how it was played.” 

Junior Jaden Vohs doubled the score late in the first half with a goal of his own after he rebounded a Carlson shot off the post to give the Wildcats a 2-0 advantage at halftime.

 It was all the Wildcats needed as the back-third took care of the rest.

Defenders Luke Faulkner, Michael Seuferling, Toby Espina-Roca, Hunter Rogers, Ethan Showalter and goalie Mack Newell provided a solid defense that has been strong all season. Tonganoxie put several shots on goal in an effort to tie the match, but Newell had six saves, while Faulkner cleared a ball just off the line to keep the shutout alive.

Photo courtesy of Bryan Frank
Louisburg senior defender Luke Faulkner clears the ball away Thursday against Baldwin.

The Wildcat defense has earned shutouts in six of their eight victories this season and it has become a strength of the team.

“Our defense has done a fantastic job of limiting our opponents’ true goal scoring chances,” Conley said. “We have been very disciplined and organized in the back. Our backline have been ball hunters and Mack has done a great job in the net for us.”

On Thursday, the Wildcats faced Baldwin for the second time this season – the first was a close overtime win for Louisburg.

They didn’t need to play extra minutes this time around as Louisburg scored a goal in each half and left Baldwin with a two-goal win.

Carlson opened the scoring for Louisburg on an assist from sophomore Cade Gassman. Yows iced the game in the second half as he scored on a penalty kick.

“We took the game at them and controlled the pace of the game,” Conley said. “I felt we had the better of play and did a great job of taking advantage of when they gave us. I think we also changed our personnel a little bit and it helped us keep control of the game.

“The boys played with a ton of energy and won a majority of 50/50 balls. This group had a crazy two weeks of seven games in 13 days. That is a lot. We did a nice job to try to protect our boys by playing a lot of players in as many games as we could.”

Louisburg will have another pair of tough games this week as the Wildcats host Spring Hill on Tuesday in their Breast Cancer Awareness Game. They will then travel to Eudora on Thursday.




Wildcats win fourth game in six days after victory over Ottawa

Louisburg senior Treston Carlson takes a shot on goal Thursday during the Wildcats’ win over Ottawa.

For the fourth time in six days, the Louisburg boys soccer team took to the pitch and one might expect that it would be a little worn down.

It was quite the opposite.

The Wildcats jumped on Ottawa in the first half Thursday at Wildcat Sports Complex and never let up as they downed the Cyclones, 4-0, and have won six straight to start their season. It was just the week the Wildcats were hoping for.

“I was worried what our legs were going to be like, as well as, where we would be mentally,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “Four games in six days is an absolute brutal stretch, but it was really nice for us to make it through there with positive results. It was also nice to be able to play almost every player on the varsity roster in a lot of those games. It allowed us to stay as fresh as we could, and also gain a lot of valuable experience for our reserves.”

Louisburg (6-0) took an early lead on the Cyclones on a goal from sophomore Colin McManigal, and then just a few minutes later, junior Braden Yows converted a penalty kick to put the Wildcats up 2-0.

It stayed that way until halftime, and it was then, the Wildcats tacked on to their lead. Senior Treston Carlson scored early in the second half and McManigal found the back of the net for his second goal to seal the win for Louisburg.

“The boys played really well and did a great job of limiting their chances and forcing our style of play on the game,” Conley said. “We played with a massive amount of energy and absolutely controlled the midfield. I was really excited how we played and how much energy we played with.  Our boys set the tone from the start of the game.”

During this long stretch, the Wildcat defense has played well as they have posted three straight shutouts and have allowed just two goals in the last four matches.

Louisburg sophomore Gavin York races ahead of two Ottawa defenders Thursday in Louisburg.

Defenders Luke Faulkner, Toby Espina-Roca, Hunter Rogers, Michael Seuferling, Ethan Showalter and goalie Mack Newell made several plays in the last week, as they did Thursday against Ottawa.

“The defense has been playing really well with having four shutouts in our first six games,” Conley said. “The boys are playing hard and building chemistry each and every time out. They are doing really well limiting the opponents’ chances.”

Louisburg will try and keep its undefeated season alive this week as the Wildcats travel to Tonganoxie and Baldwin. It was Baldwin that took Louisburg to overtime, before the Wildcats scored a golden goal to win it.

The Wildcats resume play Tuesday at Tonganoxie. Junior varsity will start at 4:30 p.m., and varsity will follow.

“I spoke to the boys about that Friday at practice,” Conley said. “Last week was great, but it was over. We need to focus on Tongie and the rematch with Baldwin. We will be ready and prepared for this week, and next for that matter, as we take on four of the best teams in our league. After these two weeks we will have a great idea where we stand going forward.”




Carlson’s golden goal lifts Louisburg past Baldwin

Louisburg senior Treston Carlson (12) is surrounded by his teammates after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime in the Wildcats’ 1-0 victory over Baldwin.

Coming off a nearly two week layoff, the Louisburg boys soccer team got a chance to host one of the top teams in the Frontier League and did so without much practice.

The Wildcats squared off with Baldwin on Monday in hopes of keep their undefeated season alive. Both teams had their chances on goal and it ended up taking extra time to decide the winner.

Luckily for Louisburg, senior Treston Carlson was in the right place at the right time.

Senior Logan Faulkner sent a pass near the goal and Carlson’s foot was there to tap it in and give the Wildcats a 1-0 win over the Bulldogs at the Wildcat Sports Complex.

“It wasn’t the prettiest, but a goal is a goal,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “Treston is kind of a junkyard dog and will clean up the mess a little bit. I was getting mad at him for carrying the ball so much instead of giving it up and keep moving. They kept sending two guys at him all the time and then he did something like that to totally redeem himself. I was really happy for the boys to see them pull it out and get a win.”

After a slow start to the match, Louisburg started taking shots on goal, but either the Wildcats missed open looks or were denied by the Baldwin goalkeeper.

Carlson, Cade Gassman, Braden Yows and Colin McManigal all had shots on goal, but were unlucky until the Wildcats hit overtime.

Louisburg junior Hunter Rogers heads the ball away from a Baldwin player Monday in Louisburg.

“It is really tough to play a team like this when you come back (off quarantine) with two practices and a game,” Conley said. “They do a lot of things to you and Baldwin plays so fast and so hard. We struggled to match that intensity at first, but after the first 10 minutes, I think we had the better of play. We had way more chances than they did, and I don’t know how many times we were inside the 6 and just couldn’t bury it.

“The frustration started to mount a little bit and we were just trying to keep everyone positive and to stay with it. Baldwin just does a lot of things to frustrate you. They play so direct and so aggressive that it makes it tough to play our game a little bit. We had moments where we were really, really good and there were moments that we were really bad too. Our marking up in the back was pretty rough, but we are just going to get back to work.”

Louisburg’s defense also came up big late in the match. With five minutes remaining in regulation, the Bulldogs took a shot that appeared it was going to find the corner of the net, but sophomore goalie Mack Newell made a diving finger-tip save to knock it away.

Louisburg defender Toby Espina-Roca slides in to knock the ball away from a Baldwin player Monday in Louisburg.

It was a save that allowed the golden goal from Carlson and kept the Wildcats perfect on the young season.

“I think the kids did a good job,” Conley said. “Our fitness isn’t where it needs to be after we took 10 days off, so we are trying to get back fit and it is one of those things. This is a really good rivalry and I think we always have good games when we come together. It would have been nice if we would have finished a few more of our chances, and I am sure Baldwin feels the same way.

“We are playing hard and not taking anything for granted because we don’t know what tomorrow is going to look like. We are playing like there is no tomorrow and we are just going to keep grinding and keep pushing.”

Louisburg blanks Paola to win fifth straight

In what was its third game in five days, Louisburg hosted rival Paola on Tuesday and the Wildcats did more than enough to get past the Panthers.

Twenty-one players saw minutes for the Wildcats and five different players scored goals in a 6-0 rout of Paola at the Wildcat Sports Complex.

“It was an up and down game for us,” Conley said. “I felt we did not play the greatest and we didn’t play with much energy. To be honest, we were flat and we struggled to execute like we usually do. I do feel that we did do some nice things, but we were not as consistent as I would have liked.

“We were able to get all 21 kids into the game and rest some legs and also allow those other young men to gain some experience. We were also able to give some of our hurt kids an extra day of rest and healing.  We will have our fourth game in six days against Ottawa and fatigue will be a factor.”

Sophomore Cade Gassman got the Wildcats on the board with two goals in the first 10 minutes to give them an early lead. Junior Braden Yows added another score and Louisburg had a 3-0 lead at halftime.

The Wildcats controlled possession throughout and they were able to tack on more scores in the second half. Sophomore Colin McManigal and senior Treston Carlson each found the back of the net to go up five.

With seconds left in the match, senior Dylan Armstrong sealed the win with his first goal of the season.

Louisburg will try to remain undefeated tonight against Ottawa at home as the Wildcats try for their sixth straight win.




Week 3 Athlete of the Week: Logan Faulkner

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week three of the fall sports season, sponsored by Dr. Laura’s Orthodontics.

LOGAN FAULKNER, SENIOR, BOYS SOCCER

Louisburg senior Logan Faulkner had a memorable day during the Wildcats’ 8-2 victory over Bonner Springs last Saturday. In just 45 minutes of action, the Wildcat midfielder recorded a hat trick with a pair of first half goals and then completed the trifecta with a penalty kick in the second. It was also the Wildcats’ first game back after having a nearly two week layoff.

The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the fall season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.

Previous winners:

Week 1: Weston Guetterman

Week 2: Lola Edwards




Wildcats return after long layoff to roll Bonner Springs

Louisburg sophomore Colin McManigal races toward the goal Saturday during the Wildcats’ game against Bonner Springs.

After having to sit out for almost two weeks due to a quarantine for a positive COVID-19 result, the Louisburg boys soccer team was back in action Saturday.

The Wildcats hosted Bonner Springs and didn’t seem to show much rust from that layoff. Louisburg scored five first half goals on its way to an 8-2 rout of the Braves to move the Wildcats’ record to 3-0 on the season.

The team was eligible to return to practice Thursday and had just two days to prepare for Bonner Springs, but the Wildcats picked up right where they left off.

“It was fantastic to have the boys back and for them to come out and play like they did was really well done,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “I think we did a fantastic job setting the tone early and capitalized on a lot of our early opportunities.”

Louisburg dominated possession and never let up as the Wildcats took 30 shots in the game, compared to just seven for Bonner Springs.

Three of those goals came thanks to the foot of senior Logan Faulkner, who recorded the hat trick, with his final one coming on a penalty kick in the second half.

“Logan made the most of every opportunity,” Conley said. “He played hard and made great runs to make sure he was in the right sport at the right time. I was really proud of his effort and how well he played.”

Junior midfielder Braden Yows was also a big part of the Wildcat attack as he finished with three assists and senior forward Treston Carlson had two goals and an assist.

Louisburg sophomore Cade Gassman puts on a shot on goal Saturday during the Wildcats’ game against Bonner Springs. Photo courtesy of Linda Ptacek.

Sophomores Ethan Ptacek, Cade Gassman and Colin McManigal also scored for Louisburg, while junior Isaac Guetterman finished with two assists and Ptacek added another.

“I felt the boys played really, really well,” Conley said. “We possessed the majority of the game and did a very nice job executing our scouting report. I like how aggressive we played and how we took what they gave us. The boys played with a lot of emotion and played for each other. It was really good to see.”

Carlson and Faulkner opened with back-to-back goals to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead and the scoring continued. McManigal, Faulkner and Gassman each followed it up to give Louisburg a 5-0 advantage at halftime and it never gave it back.

Faulkner converted a penalty kick to begin the second half to put Louisburg up six, and after a Bonner Springs goal, Ptacek found the back of the net to put the Wildcats up 7-1.

Bonner Springs would answer with another goal before Carlson sealed the victory late in the contest with another score.

“I felt we did a nice job all over the field,” Conley said. “We got on them early and didn’t let up in terms of how we played, regardless who was in the game. It is also really nice to be able to play 22 different guys. I love how much this team has bought into what we are doing and trying to make sure we play to our standard.”

It is the start of a busy week for the Wildcats as this was their first of four games that are to be played over a span of six days. Louisburg will host Baldwin today and Paola on Wednesday in a varsity only contest. The Wildcats will finish it up Thursday in a home game against Ottawa.




Wildcats stay unbeaten with win on Senior Night

Louisburg seniors (front row, from left) Emma Christy (manager), Weston Frank, Logan Faulkner, Treston Carlson; (back row) Reece Jones, Dylan Armstrong, Caleb Shaughnessy, Dacey Wieland, Luke Faulkner and Haden Yeager were honored prior to their Senior Night match Thursday.

It wasn’t the perfect match, in fact after it was all over, Louisburg head coach Kyle Conley had a list of things to work on for the upcoming practices.

Still, Thursday’s home opener against Basehor-Linwood was special in more ways than one. Not only did the Wildcats pull out a 2-0 win over the Bobcats, they did so in front of dozens of fans despite limitations set forth to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Even better, Louisburg was able to honor their seniors in the proper way as the school moved up Senior Night to its first home match of the season. Weston Frank, Logan Faulkner, Treston Carlson, Reece Jones, Dylan Armstrong, Caleb Shaughnessy, Dacey Wieland, Ethan Showalter, Luke Faulkner, Haden Yeager and manager Emma Christy were all recognized with their parents prior to the match.

Also, all of the seniors in attendance found their way into the starting lineup and made a difference in a Louisburg win that moved the Wildcats to 2-0 on the season.

“It is tough to get minutes with a team of 40 kids,” Conley said. “We kept everyone because we thought it would be important with COVID and everything. It was good to get those all those seniors some reps and have them run around out there a little bit. They played hard and they can hold their heads high.

Senior Haden Yeager wins a 50-50 ball Thursday during the Wildcats’ match with Basehor-Linwood.

“They have done everything that I have asked of them. It is hard to get kids minutes that all deserve it. I know some kids have got shafted because there are so many out. At the same time, it is about being a good leader and playing for your teammates and I think all of these seniors play an important role on this team in one way or another.”

It was a physical contest throughout as both teams had chances on goal, but Louisburg was able to control possession, which turned into more opportunities.

Louisburg put its first shot away midway through the first half when junior Braden Yows threw in from the side, toward the goal. The ball found the foot of Carlson, who tapped it past the Basehor goalie to put the Wildcats up one.

About 10 minutes later, the Wildcats added an insurance goal as Yeager moved up from his midfield spot for a scrum in front of the goal and found the back of the net to give Louisburg a little breathing room.

Although the Wildcats had enough goals to pull away, they also missed their fair share of chances, which Conley hopes can get corrected in practice.

“We had so many good chances, we just weren’t able to get many to go in,” Conley said. “In the final third, we were just not very good. We spent most of the day in practice (Wednesday) finishing in the final third and unfortunately it didn’t look like it. Still, it was great to see Treston and Haden put one away. We are just going to continue to work and we will get better.”

Sophomore goalie Mack Newell makes a save Thursday during the Wildcats’ win against Basehor at home.

The Wildcats were also able to turn away several Bobcats chances, thanks in part to goalie Mack Newell. The Louisburg sophomore made several big saves throughout the course of the match, including two in the second half, and recorded his first-ever shutout.

“Mack has worked his butt off all summer long,” Conley said. “When we have practice he has been working hard, when we haven’t had practice he has continued to work. He is a student of the game. He is still learning and still asking questions. He did a great job and he is a shot stopper. He sees the ball well and has really good hands. I’m really proud of him.”




LHS soccer team to quarantine after player tests positive for COVID-19

A member of the Louisburg High School boys soccer team has tested positive for COVID-19, the school announced in an e-mail today.

After discussion with the Miami County Health Department, they have determined by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment guidelines that the entire team, both varsity and junior varsity, will have to quarantine until Sept. 16.

“It is an unfortunate situation,” LHS activities director Michael Pickman said. “Once we were informed of the positive test, I reported it to the health department and we went from there. We are definitely hoping for a full recovery of the person involved.”

According to Pickman, the school was informed that a player was coming down with symptoms last Thursday and was in the process of getting tested. The parents then informed Pickman on Saturday of the positive test result.

Pickman then contacted the Miami County Health Department shortly after he received the news. The health department called on Monday to gather information and word came down late in the day Tuesday.

Due to the fact that the infected player practiced with the entire team last Wednesday, it led to the quarantine of all 40 players. In practice and games, players do not wear masks, except when they are not participating or doing a light workout.

The KDHE recommendation indicated that as a result of practice Wednesday, and exposure to “droplets” being possible regardless of proximity or time, all players needed to be quarantined.

Members of the team will be able to return to school and practice on Sept. 17. It means today’s match with Basehor-Linwood, Thursday’s game with Bonner Springs and the Wildcats’ Sept. 15 matchup with Paola have all been postponed.

Louisburg was also scheduled to play Lansing on Sept 14, but that game has been cancelled.

The Wildcats started their season with wins over Fort Scott and Basehor-Linwood.

“We are going to reschedule as many of these games as we can,” Pickman said. “Obviously we are probably going to lose a game or two because of this, but hopefully we will be able to have close to a full season.”