Wildcats stay undefeated with win over rival Paola

By Andy Brown
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Updated: September 7, 2017

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

Louisburg sophomore Ryan Haight heads the ball away from a Paola defender Tuesday in Louisburg. Haight and the Wildcats rolled to a 4-0 victory over the Panthers and are 3-0 to start the season.

Winning doesn’t always come easy, but it has so far for the Louisburg High School boys soccer team and it continued Tuesday against Paola.

The Wildcats picked up their third consecutive win on the season as they scored three first half goals to knock off the Panthers, 4-0, and Louisburg picked up its second Frontier League win in the process. In its three wins to start the season, Louisburg has outscored its opponents 19-1 and now has back to back shutouts.

Louisburg also handed Paola its first loss on the season, in which the Wildcats put the Panthers in a hole early and Paola didn’t have an answer.

“Paola is a team that was playing really well and had a couple of really nice wins under their belt,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “I think it is very impressive how the boys came out to start the game. We played quick and attacked. Paola was getting on teams early and we stressed how imperative it is for us to come ready to play. We did a very nice job executing and taking advantage of what they gave us.”

Opportunities were aplenty early in the first half and the Wildcats were able to find the back of the net often.

Junior Brock Bila, who finished the game with two goals, scored first as he received a pass from sophomore Landon Johnson into the box and shot it past the Paola goalie for the lead.

Moments later, it was Jarod Rose’s turn. Senior Grant Ryals sent a booming kick from midfield into the box, where Rose beat a Paola defender and the goalie for his first varsity goal and the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead less than 15 minutes into the contest.

“Brock is off to a great start thus far for us,” Conley said. “It was also really good to see Jarod get that goal. He has been getting really close for us the past couple games. It was great to see all of his hard work pay off. Jarod is a testament to what a kid with a great work ethic and hard work can achieve.”

Midway through the first half, senior Raistlin Brewer took a pass from Eli Minster for the Wildcats’ third score and all but sealed the win for Louisburg.

Defender Kris Light heads the ball away from the goal Tuesday against Paola.

Senior goalie Ambrose Stefan picked up his second consecutive shutout as the Wildcat defense allowed Paola only five shots on goal and Stefan had four saves. The back line of Kyle Allen, Kris Light, Scott Murphy and Will Frank didn’t give up many Panther attacks.

“Our defense is improving each and every day,” Conley said. “We are still trying to gel as a unit, but I am very pleased with how we are playing right now. We have not been truly tested to this point. The (upcoming) game against Spring Hill will show us where we are as a team and how our defense ranks up.”

Conley also liked what he saw out of sophomore Ryan Haight and his defensive midfield spot. Haight, along with Ryals, were marked up on Paola’s top scorers and didn’t allow many possessions on the defensive side of the field.

“Ryan was fantastic,” Conley said. “He was responsible for taking away their best player and he did exactly that. Ryan and Grant Ryals are playing really, really well right now. I am pleased with how they are working together and playing off of one another.”

Louisburg will try and keep its undefeated season going tonight when it travels to Spring Hill. The varsity match is set to begin at approximately 6 p.m.