Wildcats blank Chanute to earn spot in regional title game

Louisburg juniors Hailey Sword and Ellery Allen were all smiles following Sword’s goal in the first half of Tuesday victory over Chanute.

When the regional brackets were announced late last week, Louisburg saw it would face a familiar first round opponent.

The Wildcats hosted Chanute on Tuesday in the Class 4-1A regional semifinal, and just like earlier in the season, it was the same result. 

Louisburg scored 10 goals en route to a 10-0 victory over the Blue Comets, who just completed the program’s inaugural season. That win set up a different kind of opponent for today’s regional championship.

The No. 3 seed Wildcats go from facing a winless Chanute team, to squaring off with No. 6 Bishop Miege — a team that has won six straight state championships.

It will obviously be a different kind of game in today’s regional title match, as the Wildcats try to reach the state tournament.

“We know this will be a big challenge for us, but is it impossible, of course not,” Louisburg coach Ben York said. “It will take our best effort to get it done and I think the girls are up for the challenge. The coaches have watched a lot of film and we will put together a game plan. Hopefully the girls will come with a great attitude and put together a good performance, and will see what happens.”

Against Chanute, the Wildcats found the back of the net early and often as junior Lola Edwards and senior Bree Gassman each had a pair of goals to lead the Louisburg scoring.

Edwards got the scoring started with a goal three minutes into the match, and then followed it up with a shot from 20 yards out to make it a 2-0 contest.

Then a pair of Wildcat defenders got into the scoring column. Junior Ellery Allen blasted a shot from just beyond the 18, then minutes later, junior Hailey Sword got a goal of her own to make it 4-0.

Freshman Mena Fercho and sophomore Rowan Yows added scores in the final minutes of the first half and the Wildcats took a 6-0 lead.

Gassman opened the second half with a pair of quick goals and senior Adyson Ross followed it up with a score to make it 9-0. A Chanute own goal ended the match early.

Louisburg junior goalie Macy Lemke earned the clean sheet as the Wildcats picked up their fourth straight shutout.

The Wildcats (13-4) will host Bishop Miege at 5 p.m. today for the regional championship at Wildcat Stadium. The first 125 student will get in free with a valid student ID. There will also be a tailgate that begins at 4 p.m. that features a couple different food trucks.

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