Wildcats stay perfect with comeback win over Bishop Ward

By Andy Brown
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Updated: September 19, 2019

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

Louisburg goalie Garrett Rolofson slides in for a save Tuesday during the Wildcats’ match at Bishop Ward.

The Louisburg boys soccer team has experienced a lot during this winning streak to start their season, and the Wildcats have had to overcome some adversity along the way.

That was true Tuesday when Louisburg traveled to Bishop Ward and found itself down a goal at halftime and its perfect season was in jeopardy. Like before, the Wildcats figured out a way to clear those obstacles.

Louisburg got two second half goals from freshman Cade Gassman, and junior Logan Faulkner scored the go-ahead goal in the Wildcats’ 3-1 victory over Bishop Ward. The Wildcats now have a six-game winning streak to start the year and picked up their second win in as many days.

“The boys played so hard the second half,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “We just struggled to have that fire and energy that we usually play with in the first half. I’m not sure if it was the environment, playing the night before or what.

“The Bishop Ward game was physical and we struggled to respond right way. It seemed like after the red card, the boys responded and played extremely hard. We played for each other and picked our intensity up.”

Louisburg (6-0) faced even more adversity later in the game when Conley was given two yellow cards, which turned into a red card, and he was forced to leave the match.

His players certainly responded in his absence as they tied the match early in the second half as Gassman blasted a shot from 15 yards away that found the back of the net and gave the Wildcats the momentum they were looking for.

With 20 minutes left in the match, Faulkner put the Wildcats up for good with a goal in a scrum in front of the net. Gassman iced the match with a penalty kick with five seconds left to give Louisburg its sixth consecutive win.

**Cade Gassman battles a Bishop Ward defender for a 50-50 ball Tuesday at Bishop Ward.**

“Cade has been doing really well and is starting to get some of that chemistry with Braden (Yows) and Treston (Carlson),” Conley said. “They are working really well together and the boys are playing really creative soccer. I couldn’t be happier with their development thus far. Cade is consistently working to get better each and every day. It is paying off for him right now.”

Senior goalie Garrett Rolofson finished the night with six saves as the Wildcat defense tightened up as the game went along after giving up a goal in the early stages of the first half.

Louisburg will try to avoid its first loss of the season tonight when it hosts Spring Hill in a Frontier League dual. Varsity is set to begin at 6 p.m. at the Wildcat Stadium Complex.

“Man, Spring Hill is always so good,” Conley said. “Our games are always intense and have an incredible atmosphere. I think the boys are ready for it and it should be a really good one. Both teams are playing really, really well right now.”

LOUISBURG SHUTS OUT LANSING ON ROAD

Louisburg had a difficult task ahead of itself Monday when it had to travel to square off with Lansing – a Class 5A program.

The Wildcats didn’t have much of a problem as they controlled possession from the start and never looked back in a 2-0 result.

Junior Treston Carlson gave Louisburg a 1-0 lead before halftime and then sophomore Braden Yows sealed the win with a goal in the second half. Freshman Cade Gassman added an assist, while senior goalie Garrett Rolofson notched another shutout.

“The Lansing game was extremely intense and very physical,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “We had a ridiculous amount of shots, but just couldn’t score. We did a great job of keeping the ball and possessing. I was very excited how our boys fought and played. They are starting to figure out how I want us to play the game. This team is going to be a lot of fun if they keep learning and improving.”

Louisburg had plenty of chances to make it an even larger score with 13 shots on goal, including five from Yows. Logan Faulkner had three attempts, while Colin Cook, Gassman, Jaden Vohs and Gavin York also had looks at the net.