Brown’s golden goal lifts Wildcats past Pittsburg in OT

PITTSBURG — Louisburg was less than 30 seconds away from not only leaving Pittsburg with a tie, but watching a two-goal lead disappear.

It wouldn’t have been a loss, but the Wildcat players would have lamented about this game slipping through their fingers.

Luckily, they didn’t have to do any of that.

With 28 seconds remaining, senior Colton Blue sent a corner into the box and senior Jacob Brown scored the golden goal to give the Wildcats a 3-2 overtime win — their second overtime victory in three games to start the season.

Not only that, but it was Louisburg’s third consecutive win to start the year after winning just four games in 2023.

“Pittsburg came back with a frenzy,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “Having a 2-0 lead in soccer is the worst type of lead to have. You think you’re good, but all it takes is one goal to get the other team back in it. The Pittsburg players had been cramping, arguing with each other, and breaking down as a team, but once they got their first goal, it was a flurry of attacks. 

“They got closer and closer until they finally put in the tying goal. This win was absolutely gutsy. I told the Pittsburg coach after the game how impressed I was with his team’s rally — the energy, the intensity, and the team unity that all the sudden came together. I’m pretty proud of the gutsy performance we showed.”

Louisburg took the lead in the first half as sophomore Brody Bovaird scored his first goal of the season. Wildcat goalie Evan Moreland punted the ball over the top of the Pittsburg defense and Bovaird was able to chase the ball down to put the Wildcats up 1-0.

The Wildcats (3-0) doubled their lead in the second half as Emmett White scored on an assist from Will Showalter.

“We are getting more and more scoring opportunities,” coach Bovaird said. “The score of our first three games doesn’t really represent our growth offensively and the threats we’ve been giving our opponents. I felt pretty good to see us get the lead in the first half and then to have a second goal give us a little bit of a buffer.”

However, Pittsburg would mount a comeback of its own. The Purple Dragons cut the Louisburg lead in half, and then with 24 seconds left in regulation, the Wildcats were called for a handball in the box and Pittsburg was awarded a penalty kick. 

Moreland made the initial save on the penalty, but Pittsburg scored off a rebound to force overtime.

After a scoreless first extra period, Brown gave the Wildcats the victory with time running out in the match.

“Before the game, I told the guys that we need to keep our mindsets focused — believe, compete, and do one more, or ‘Wildcat Style’ as I like to call it,” coach Bovaird said. “I told them that we needed to get out there and fight the good fight the entire game, that we needed to finish the game the right way by giving our best efforts and intensity. 

“Finally, I told them that they needed to keep the faith and believe in the process. A win like what we had over Pittsburg is a huge character-statement for these guys, and I sure hope they realize how far they’ve come.”

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