Wildcats earn share of league title with win over Piper on Senior Night

Louisburg junior Cade Gassman tries to dribble past a Piper player Thursday during the Wildcats’ home contest against the Pirates. Louisburg won the match, 4-1.

Before the start of the season, the Louisburg boys soccer team made several goals for itself.

The Wildcats checked one of those off Thursday and did it on Senior Night. Louisburg hosted Piper and picked up a 4-1 victory to finish with a share of the Frontier League title.

Louisburg tied with Spring Hill atop the league standings. In the process, the Wildcats improved their record to 11-4-1 and earned the No. 1 seed in the Class 4-1A playoffs with the win.

It was a game the Wildcats dominated from start to finish. Louisburg had 26 shots on the night and got production from several different players.

“The boys were ready to go,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “We were able to work on a lot of things and move some kids around. The boys were ready from the beginning and played really well. We controlled the tempo of the game and moved the ball very well. We made sure we were balanced and did a great job for playing for each other. We dominated the majority of the game and it was a great way to send off our seniors.”

Prior to the match, the Wildcats recognized seniors Michael Seuferling, Isaac Guetterman, Braden Yows, Aidan Cannon, Hunter Rogers and manager Sierra Hahn for their time with the program.

It was a senior class that experienced a lot of success. They posted a 48-19-3 record during their time with the program, earned two league titles, two regional championships and a third place finish at state a year ago.

“These five boys have spent the past three years preparing for this time,” Conley said. “They are all great young men that absolutely give everything they have for this team. They show up everyday to work and to get better. That 100 percent sets the tone for the rest of the team. They are all ready for the playoffs and to play their very best for their school and their teammates. This group has played a big role for some time now. Their hard work is paying off.”

Louisburg was on the attack early as junior forward Colin McManigal found the back of the net 10 minutes into the match for his first of two goals.

Junior Gavin York followed suit five minutes later as he headed a Braden Yows pass to put the Wildcats up 2-0 at halftime.

McManigal added another goal early in the second half and Yows sealed the win midway through the second half. Yows also finished with two assists on the night.

Cade Gassman and Guetterman led Louisburg with five shots on the night and three of Gassman’s shots were on target. 

Rogers finished with three shots, while Yows, McManigal, Austin Jamison and York each had two. Freshmen Colton Blue and Emmett White also had shots on goal.

Louisburg goalie Mack Newell didn’t allow a goal in the first half of action, but left at halftime with a leg injury. Piper scored a goal late in the contest to prevent the shutout.

The Wildcats now want to check more goals off their list as they aim for a regional championship, but it won’t be easy.

Louisburg will host No. 16 Paola at 5 p.m. today for the regional semifinals and then could host Bishop Miege in the regional title game on Thursday. Miege is the defending state champion and has ended Louisburg’s hopes for a state title the last three years.

“The playoffs are the best time of the year,” Conley said. “This is what every team plays for. In the playoffs anything can happen and records get thrown out the window. This year has been so up and down for every week in regards to teams results. With injuries and Covid, a lot of teams barely had their team together for the majority for the season and we were no different. 

“The best part is to hope to have all your players available for this time of year. Postseason is a lot of fun and it is the part of the season you want to be playing your best and to be healthy. We played seven 5A schools and two 6A schools to prepare for this run. We will see if it pays dividends.”

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