Lewer’s game-winner lifts Wildcats in double overtime

Louisburg freshman Kaitlyn Lewer (middle) celebrates her game-winning goal against Kansas City Christian with teammates Madisen Simpson (left) and Lily Cook on Thursday at Johnson County Community College. The Wildcats improved their record to 8-2-1 on the season.

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Kaitlyn Lewer came off the bench to give her team some much needed minutes Thursday against Kansas City Christian, but she did more than give the Wildcats minutes – she won them the game.

In a scoreless game in double overtime, Lewer sent a shot over the head of the K.C. Christian goalie that found the back of the net and gave the Wildcats a 1-0 win at Johnson County Community College.

“I could just feel it was going to go in,” Lewer said. “I am just thankful for the team and for getting me the ball and working their butts off.”

The Louisburg freshman provided the Wildcats a much needed lift when the match appeared as it was going to end on a tie. Louisburg had several shots on goal throughout the contest, but couldn’t get it in the net.

However, the Wildcats didn’t seem to panic as they continued to push at the attack on the Panthers’ defense, which led to Lewer’s game-winning shot.

Lewer received a pass from junior Madisen Simpson and she took a touch near the sideline. She took the shot with her left foot and the shot sailed toward the far post for the goal.

“The second half Kaitlyn had a couple chances there but she kept going toward the endline and I told her to just go toward the goal, make one touch and play it to the back stick and see what happens,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “She did that exact thing in the second overtime and it worked out well for all of us. It was just fantastic.

“I am very happy for her. She has been playing very well and quite honestly, by needing numbers for JV, it has kind of been hurting her varsity time because she is definitely earning the time.”

The Louisburg defenders also played a big role in the double overtime win. The Wildcats limited the K.C. Christian shots on goal, and although there were a couple close calls, the defenders were in the right place.

Rylee Bergh, Georgia Wilde, Camdyn Clark, Simpson, Lewer and Lilly Scott were all six involved on keeping the game tied, while sophomore goalie Shay Whiting made several saves to earn her second consecutive shutout and fifth on the season.

“I think we did a good job,” Conley said of his defense. “Except for their corner kicks, the shots they had were from distance or contested and that was our whole goal. We don’t want to give up free looks and the girls are doing a good job of containing and not giving up a good look.”

The Wildcats (8-2-1) had their fair share of good looks.

Sophomore Bailey Belcher crossed the ball into the box midway through the first half to teammate Savannah Reinhart but her shot near the goal was saved. Late in the first half, Belcher had a shot hit off the crossbar, but bounced away.

“It is the first time that I have had to yell at them after the first half because we just went through the motions and let them dictate the pace,” Conley said. “In the second half and the overtimes, we just came out like gangbusters. We were playing hard, we pressured all over the place and we had countless chances we just couldn’t put it home. I thought we did well in the back as well. The girls just played so stinkin’ hard.”

Louisburg came close to scoring its first goal in the second half as Belcher went on a breakaway in the opening minutes, but her shot was saved by the Panther goalie.

A few minutes later, Clark nearly scored on a header off a corner kick, but her shot was knocked away and Belcher’s follow up attempt was stopped by a trio of Panther defenders.

After a scoreless first overtime, the Wildcats finally broke through on Lewer’s shot early on in the second overtime.

“We just kept going at them and going at them and you could tell their backs were getting tired,”
Conley said. “The whole overtime thing was if you had a chance to go past their backs, just go and that is what Kaitlyn did.”

Louisburg returns to action today when it travels to Baldwin for what is a makeup game after its postponement last week. The Wildcats were supposed to play at home today against Baldwin, but that match has been moved to May 10.

The Wildcats will host Frontier League leader De Soto on Tuesday.