Wildcats cruise to road victory over rival Paola

By Andy Brown
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Updated: October 22, 2024

***Louisburg senior Ethan Sharp scores his first varsity goal during the Wildcats’ Oct. 15 road match at Paola.***

PAOLA — It was an up and down week for the Louisburg boys soccer team, but the beginning part was much more memorable for the Wildcats.

Louisburg ventured to rival Paola on Oct. 15 for a Frontier League battle, and the Wildcats made quick work of the Panthers as they cruised to an 8-0 mercy rule win.

“I’m definitely very proud of how the guys stepped up in that game,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “We needed a chance to get some things cleaned up as far as our style and strategy. I didn’t want our guys to change the way they played just because it’s our rival or because they’re not having a great season. I wanted them to stay disciplined and refine some things that we need to improve if we want to win the key games in the postseason.”

The Wildcats got out to a quick start against the Panthers as they scored five goals in the first half and never looked back. Louisburg would go on to score three more goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half to secure the mercy rule win.

Junior Owen Marsh provided the Wildcats with another big performance as he recorded his second consecutive hat trick. Marsh finished with three goals, including one on a penalty kick to end the match in the second half.

**Louisburg junior Caleb Feldkamp scored two goals against Paola last week.**

Another junior, Caleb Feldkamp, scored two second half goals. Seniors Colton Blue, Jacob Brown and Ethan Sharp also scored for the Wildcats. For Sharp, the team’s starting defender, he recorded his first varsity goal off a corner kick in the first half.

Blue finished with a team-high two assists on the night, while Feldkamp, and seniors Emmett White and Dan Minster each had one. Junior goalie Evan Moreland got the clean sheet for Louisburg.

Louisburg has one final week of the regular season left and it starts tonight as the Wildcats host Blue Valley for a 6 p.m. start. The Wildcats will then hit the road for their regular season finale Thursday at Baldwin.

“We’re really hoping to get a solid win this week,” Bovaird said. “That will really help determine whether or not we host a regional game or if we have to travel.”

Wildcats lose close match at Leavenworth

Louisburg entered its match at Leavenworth on a 3-game winning streak last Thursday and the Wildcats were hoping for a fourth.

Leavenworth had other ideas. Despite a couple rallies, Louisburg couldn’t convert on its chances and the Pioneers took full advantage of theirs as they took the match over Louisburg, 3-2.

“They really just capitalized on some key opportunities,” Bovaird said of Leavenworth. “We dominated everything except the final score, which was frustrating for us all.”

The Wildcats had 56 percent of possession and outshot the Pioneers, 11-4. However, Leavenworth scored on three of its four opportunities.

The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead in the first half, but the Wildcats were able to answer. Senior Ethan Sharp hit a free kick into the box and it found the foot of Owen Marsh, who made it a one score game.

Leavenworth scored midway through the second half to make it 3-1. With 11 minutes remaining, senior Colton Blue found the back of the net on a free kick from about 30 yards out, but the Wildcats ran out of time.

“There were several moments when we were playing really well, moving the ball around and playing some sharp-looking soccer,” Bovaird said. “It’s just some of those lapses that popped up, and Leavenworth was ready to seize those opportunities.”