Yows hat trick paces Wildcats past Ottawa for sixth straight win

By Andy Brown
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: May 6, 2025

***Louisburg senior Rowan Yows recorded a hat trick on May 1 during the Wildcats’ 4-0 win at Ottawa.***

OTTAWA — For most of the first half, the Louisburg girls soccer team dominated possession and put together several shots on goal during its May 1 game at Ottawa.

The only problem was many of those shots didn’t want to go in. That all changed in the second half.

Louisburg, which had a one-goal lead at halftime, scored three more times in the second half as the Wildcats cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Cyclones.

It was the sixth straight victory for the Wildcats (10-2) and their second straight shutout.

“Ottawa was a good game for us to grow from,” Louisburg coach Jordan Roquemore said. “Ottawa was firmly planted in defense and bogged us down in the middle throughout the whole game. We found out that playing our normal possession game through the middle was not working as well. We would move the ball into the attacking third and then get clogged by their layered defense. Overall, it was not our best game, but still a win and one that offers some valuable lessons.”

Wildcat senior Rowan Yows continued her goal-scoring tear as she recorded her third hat trick in the last four matches. She scored the team’s lone goal in the first half to give the Wildcats the early lead.

Louisburg freshman Kahlan Harris made it a 2-0 advantage midway through the second half. Yows tacked on two more goals, including one on an assist from Harris, to seal the road victory.

Defensively, the Wildcats didn’t allow a shot the entire match as the midfield and back line didn’t allow many runs down field.

***Louisburg senior Baileigh Johnson heads the ball toward the goal during the Wildcats’ match on May 1 at Ottawa.***

“Rowan still had a great game creating and finishing opportunities near the goal,” Roquemore said. “I was also really pleased with Lila Edwards’ play this game both in the back and midfield. Cora Roche also had a great game. There was a lot of individual effort from our side across the field. We just lacked some of our usual team chemistry working together as a cohesive whole.

“Although we really didn’t give up any significant opportunities to Ottawa during the game, they did attempt to counter-attack quickly when we found ourselves over-extended. Our defense did a great job recovering, but we want to avoid those moments in the future.”