Wildcats fall to Eudora in final game of busy stretch

By Andy Brown
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Updated: May 7, 2024

***Louisburg senior Hailey Sword beats a Bonner Springs player to the ball Thursday in Bonner Springs.***

Three games in four days is tough on any team, but for a squad already dealing with multiple injuries, it is even more taxing.

That is what Louisburg faced Friday when it hosted Eudora for its third match in four days. The Wildcats tried to overcome their rash of injuries, but an early Eudora goal proved to be the difference in a 1-0 loss at Wildcat Stadium.

“We were a pretty run down group by Friday,” Louisburg coach Ben York said. “Three games in four days would be normally difficult, but since the Augusta game we haven’t been 100 percent healthy since. Eudora had a good game plan and they created an opportunity early. We were able to have a lot of opportunities are ourselves, we just couldn’t get one to go.”

Eudora got on the board early as the Cardinals scored in the first 10 minutes of the match to go up one goal, but the Wildcats put the pressure on the Cardinal defense after that.

Louisburg (9-4-1) had 12 shots on goal for the match, compared to just four for Eudora. The Wildcats just had a tough time finding the back of the net.

“We really did have more opportunities than they did and we had probably 12 shots on goal,” York said. “We had a couple off the post that didn’t go. It was frustrating and the girls know we probably should have won the game. We didn’t play as well we could have, even with the injuries we have.”

***Louisburg junior Baileigh Johnson puts a shot on goal Thursday at Bonner Springs.***

The loss also put the Wildcats with a 1-2 record on the week after a setback to Basehor-Linwood on April 30, but bounced back with a win over Bonner Springs on Thursday.

Most of the Wildcat midfield have been dealing with injuries and hope to use the last week of the regular season to get healthier for a postseason run.

Louisburg did get a piece of good news as senior defender Ellery Allen will return to action during today’s home game against Ottawa. Allen has missed all season with a foot injury, but York is excited to have her back.

“Ellery practiced full on, so it will be nice to get her back as she is one of the top three or four players on our team with all the experience she has,” York said. “She is obviously not going to be as conditioned as the rest of the team, but she is going to be fine and will give her a few minutes here and there. Hopefully we can get this group as healthy as we can for the postseason.”

Following Tuesday’s home game against Ottawa, the Wildcats will host Lansing on Thursday for Senior Night.

Louisburg shuts out Bonner Springs on the road

After a tough loss to Basehor-Linwood on April 30, Louisburg needed a little pick-me-up and the Wildcats got it against Bonner Springs.

The Wildcats scored a pair of goals in each half as they blanked Bonner Springs, 4-0

“I thought we played pretty well at Bonner,” Louisburg coach Ben York said. “Their coach does a nice job of getting them better as the season goes along. We got up 15 minutes and we were able to go from there. The girls wanted to put a few more goals away, but at the end of the day we will take it and it is always good to get a win.

***Louisburg’s Rylee Moore jumps into the arms of Ellia Gibbons after Gibbons scored Thursday at Bonner Springs.***

Louisburg senior Lexi Hampton opened the scoring with a goal near the top of the box. Junior Rowan Yows added another to make it a 2-0 halftime lead.

Senior Hailey Sword launched a shot from about 25 yards to give the Wildcats their third goal and freshman Ellia Gibbons found the back of the net to seal the win for the Wildcats.