Wildcats shut out Paola, will host Bishop Miege for regional title

Louisburg junior Colin McManigal heads the ball away during Tuesday’s regional semifinal game against Paola. McManigal recorded a hat trick in the 9-0 win.

On paper, Tuesday’s regional semifinal match between Louisburg and Paola was more of a means to an end for the Wildcats.

Louisburg, which is the No. 1 seed, hosted 2-win Paola in what could have been a look-ahead to the championship game. However, the Wildcats didn’t treat it that way.

The Wildcats dominated play from the opening whistle and advanced with a 9-0 victory over the Panthers. The win puts Louisburg in the regional championship game Friday against Bishop Miege.

“I thought the boys played really well,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “We moved the ball well and did a nice job of taking away the things they wanted to do. We dominated from start to finish.  It was really nice to get all 22 boys into the game and allow them to gain some playoff experience. We did a nice job of not letting them take us out of our game with their behavior and style of play. We created a lot of really nice chances.”

The victory now puts Louisburg up against the No. 1 ranked team in Class 4-1A, Bishop Miege.

Miege has won the last five state championships, 12 of the last 13 regional championships and has won 26 playoff games in a row. The Stags will travel to Louisburg on Friday for a 5 p.m. start.

Louisburg fell to Miege in the state semifinals last season and the Stags have handed the Wildcats a loss in the postseason in four of the last five years. The Wildcats know the challenge ahead of them.

“Bishop Miege is a fantastic team that is really well coached,” Conley said. “It is no secret how successful they have been over the past 20 years. They are an incredible team and they are always the favorite in 4A-1A. We know if we ever want to win a state title, it will go through Bishop Miege. 

“This is a match up that should be happening in Topeka at the State Final Four, but it is a match up that we are excited to see how we do. They are loaded at every position and it will be a great opportunity for our boys.”

Against Paola, the Wildcats got things going in the opening minutes as Braden Yows and Colin McManigal each scored to put the Wildcats ahead. With 14 minutes left in the first half, Cade Gassman scored to make it 3-0.

Junior Gavin York found the back of the net late in the first half to give Louisburg a 4-0 halftime lead.

The Wildcats kept the scoring going in the second half as McManigal opened with a pair of goals to give him a hat trick for the game. Yows followed it up with his second goal to make it 7-0.

Late in the second half, senior midfielder Isaac Guetterman scored his first varsity goal and his teammates celebrated right along with him.

Louisburg emptied its bench and freshman Colton Blue ended the scoring wit his first goal of the contest.

“It was great watching the boys play for each other, regardless who was on the field,” Conley said. “The team played really well and did a nice job of taking what they gave us. At the beginning of the season, Isaac said he had never scored a goal and that is something he would like to do before he graduates. Some member of the team heard him and it was something they wanted for him. So when we could, we moved him to forward to give him the chance. Throughout the season, he had some fantastic chances, but he finally got one to go. The boys were more excited than he was. I think that shows you how special this group is.”

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