Wildcats blank Ottawa, Basehor-Linwood to improve winning streak to 8

OTTAWA — Louisburg squared off with Ottawa for the second time in a week, and although both matches ended up in Wildcat victories, the matches were drastically different.

After a slow start in its previous game with the Cyclones, Louisburg wasted no time getting going as the Wildcats scored six first half goals and cruised to an 8-0 victory at home on May 8. It was also the Wildcats’ eighth consecutive victory. 

Louisburg scored just once in the opening half of the first matchup before pulling away with a 4-goal win.

“We played an absurdly better game against Ottawa the second time around,” Louisburg coach Jordan Roquemore said. “Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised how much more effective we were against them on Thursday at home. 

“When we first played Ottawa, we got bogged down by their defense in our attacking third. Our possession was not bad and we controlled much of the game, but our offensive combinations and finishing was really rough and not team-centric. We talked about some tactical adjustments we wanted to make and the girls not only applied them, they executed them at a very high level.”

Rowan Yows got the scoring started for the Wildcats (12-2) as she chipped a shot over the keeper’s head early in the first half thanks to an assist from Lila Edwards.

Edwards, a defender, put the Wildcats up 2-0 on a shot from about 20 yards out for her second goal of the year. About three minutes later, Yows struck again as she dribbled through the Cyclone defense to make it a 3-goal lead.

Senior Jaden Bentz, another defender, scored her first goal of the season as she had an high-arching shot that was out of reach of the keeper to make it 4-0. 

Just moments later, senior Baileigh Johnson found the back of the net on a cross from Yows. At the end of the first half, freshman Kahlan Harris struck for a goal to give the Wildcats a 6-0 halftime advantage.

Harris scored her second goal of the game about 30 seconds into the second half on an assist from freshman Cora Roche. Then three minutes later, junior Mena Fercho ended the match with a goal in the mercy-rule victory.

In all, the Wildcats had 23 shots, including 16 on target in just 43 minutes of action. 

“Although I am always happy to see Rowan scoring goals, it was also nice to see others getting on the board on Thursday,” Roquemore said. “It says more about our team playing at its full potential. We play at our best when the entire team is playing both offense and defense. Everyone contributes to creating opportunities and stopping threats. If we rely completely on individual players to carry the load, we become easier to anticipate and much less potent in our play.”

Defensively, the Wildcats recorded their ninth shutout on the season as Ally Brown and Ellia Gibbons combined for the clean sheet.

Louisburg will try and continue its winning streak on May 12 as the Wildcats travel to De Soto.

Louisburg shuts out Basehor-Linwood 

Louisburg went on the road to face off with Basehor-Linwood on May 6 and put together another strong showing.

The Wildcats scored four first half goals and that was all they needed in a 4-0 victory over the Bobcats.

“We had an excellent first half against Basehor,” Roquemore said. “I felt that we were playing some of our best soccer with our dynamic possession and opportunities created. We took over and we didn’t give them any chances. 

“During the second half, we experimented with some formation changes that we expect to implement in future games. It was good for learning and getting comfortable with something different and more defensive. However, it also limited our offensive firepower. I’m glad we got the opportunity to try it and I’m hopeful it pays off if we have to use it later in the season.”

Senior Rowan Yows recorded her third straight hat trick to lead the Wildcats, while freshman Cora Roche scored later in the first half.

“I feel like a broken record with Rowan, but she is on fire and is a force to be reckoned with while going to goal,” Roquemore said. “This was her third hat trick in a row which is rare to say the least. I also thought Cora’s goal was excellent. She has been quietly having an excellent season and I want to find ways to incorporate her more into our offensive front.”

Defensively, the Wildcats limited the Bobcats to just one shot on goal and senior goalie Ally Brown recorded the clean sheet.

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