Wildcats blank Fort Scott on Senior Night to finish regular season strong

The Louisburg boys soccer team closed out its regular season in dominant fashion — and in perfect Senior Night style.

The Wildcats cruised to an 8-0 victory over Fort Scott last Thursday, wrapping up a stretch in which they won three of their final four matches heading into postseason play.

Before kickoff, the Wildcats honored their 14 seniors — Ryan Barberich, Grant Cannon, Renner Erickson, Caleb Feldkamp, Wyatt Guetterman, Canton Klugman, Tanner LaBrie, Owen Marsh, Luis Mendez, Evan Moreland, Keegan Rogers, Wyatt Tharp, Carlos Villar-Martinez and Guillermo Villar-Martinez.

Those seniors made sure the night belonged to them on the field, too. Six of Louisburg’s eight goals came from upperclassmen, with Marsh (2 goals) opening the scoring and Feldkamp finishing it early in the second half. Klugman, Villar-Martinez and LaBrie also found the back of the net along with Ryder Erickson and Brody Bovaird. Villar-Martinez, LaBrie, Guetterman (twice) and Renner Erickson all recorded assists.

Moreland earned his third shutout in the last four matches, thanks to a sturdy defensive line anchored by Barberich, Cannon, Guetterman and Tharp.

“It was a great night for our seniors and for the Wildcat soccer program,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “We were able to start 11 of our 14 seniors and get the rest in shortly after kickoff, so everybody got their moment. A lot of those guys who don’t normally get big varsity minutes got to play a ton, which was awesome to see.”

Bovaird said the senior class holds special meaning for him personally.

“This senior class means a lot to me, and it’s been a great learning experience for everyone involved,” Bovaird said. “They were freshmen when I took over, so I’ve seen them grow up through the program. They’ve come a long way — on the field and off — and they’ve set a strong example for our younger guys. Every group of players brings its own mix of personalities, and one of the best things about high school sports — for players, coaches, and parents alike — is learning how to handle challenges, stay accountable, and keep perspective. At the end of the day, we’re all working toward the same goal, and hope the boys know how proud I am of the way they’ve faced adversity and grown through it.”

The Wildcats’ strong finish included decisive wins over Paola (6-0) and Leavenworth (1-0) earlier in October. Marsh recorded a hat trick against Paola, while Cody Courtney scored twice and Klugman added one. Brody Bovaird assisted on two goals.

“That game was all about building confidence,” Coach Bovaird said. “The guys were really visualizing success and trusting their instincts, and you could see it from the opening whistle.”

Against Leavenworth, Ryder Erickson’s early goal — assisted by Feldkamp — proved to be the difference.

“That one wasn’t flashy, but the boys stayed composed,” Bovaird said. “It was gritty soccer that helped us focus on what we need to tighten up for the postseason.”

Louisburg (9-6-1) will now look to extend its season when it opens regional play Tuesday at home as the No. 8 seed, facing No. 9 Eudora at 6 p.m. The winner advances to Thursday’s regional final to face either No. 2 Bishop Miege or No. 15 Parsons.

“The guys are fired up,” Bovaird said. “We’ve grown a lot since the first time we saw Eudora, and the seniors especially are hungry to make a run. You can feel the energy — they know what’s at stake and they’re ready to go after it.”