Johnson’s golden goal gives Wildcats a double OT win over Basehor-Linwood

Members of the Louisburg girls soccer team mob senior Reese Johnson after she scored the game-winning goal Tuesday against Basehor-Linwood in double overtime.

As Louisburg coach Kyle Conley looked onto the field trying to figure out who he wanted to take the biggest kick of the game, he decided on a senior.

With the match against Basehor-Linwood tied in double overtime, the Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick and Conley gave the nod to senior Reese Johnson.

Johnson wasn’t overly thrilled with the idea.

“Reese isn’t very comfortable taking those, but I am going to push that envelope to see what happens,” Conley said. “I am going to ride our seniors as far we can.

“I just wanted to get her out of her comfort zone. She is a gamer and plays hard and that is what we are looking for.”

Johnson took the penalty kick, and despite a save by the Basehor-Linwood goalie on the first attempt, she put the rebound opportunity away and gave the Wildcats a 2-1 win over the Bobcats.

After it was all over, Johnson appreciated Conley’s trust in her to come through with the game on the line.

“It meant a lot that Conley wanted me to take it,” Johnson said. “He’s believed in me since day one and has given me so many opportunities to show what I’ve got. Knowing that he trusts me with a game-deciding opportunity really means a lot and I’m glad I didn’t let him down.

“Having a coach like Conley who pushes you out of your comfort zone and believes in you is very comforting and makes me wanna work hard every day.”

It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Wildcats, who just concluded their fourth match in eight days. Tuesday’s home win was the toughest, most rewarding of the four.

“It was a good win,” Conley said. “It was a team that we lost to 2-1 last year and they are a good team this year. I think we were the ones that brought the intensity to them and we were the team to be on the front foot and we were the aggressor and I think that was the difference. We were subbing five or six at a time and they subbed one. Our kids came ready to go and did their job.”

The Wildcats (10-3) came out firing from the opening whistle as they scored two minutes into the match.

Sophomore Lola Edwards got the rebound off a missed shot and put it away to give Louisburg a 1-0 advantage.

Basehor-Linwood tied the match late in the first half and it stayed that way until the second overtime.

The Wildcats were the aggressor for most of the match as they outshot the Bobcats 19-8 and had 12 shots on target to just four for Basehor.

“We played hard and the adjustments we made on how we were going to play after we scouted Basehor, I think caused some problems for them,” Conley said. “We played really quick and took what they gave us and took advantage of it. We kept attacking and those things paid dividends for us.”

That perseverance paid off as Basehor was called for a handball in the box early in the second overtime and the Wildcats got the break they were looking for.

Johnson took the penalty kick, and despite eventually scoring on the second attempt after the save, the Louisburg senior was a little miffed.

“At first I was not very happy,” Johnson said. “I am very hard on myself even though sometimes I shouldn’t be. I was disappointed my shot was saved the first time, but in the end it found the back of the net and we won that game so that’s all that matters.

“We deserved that win because we outplayed them and had so many opportunities. The team deserved it and Conley deserved it so I am happy that I could be the one to get it for us, even if I did miss the first time.”

Her teammates quickly turned her frown into a bright smile and the Wildcats walked away with their fourth straight win.

Louisburg will try and make it five in a row today as the Wildcats travel to Bonner Springs for a Frontier League matchup.