Wildcats record back-to-back shutouts of Eudora, Lansing

By Andy Brown
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Updated: May 2, 2022

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

Louisburg senior Reese Johnson pushes the ball up field Thursday during the Wildcats’ home contest against Eudora.

LANSING — In the middle of a grueling stretch that has the Louisburg girls soccer team playing four matches in seven days, the Wildcats took the challenge head on of playing Eudora and Lansing on back-to-back days.

The result was a pair of shutout victories.

Louisburg concluded its second game in as many days with a 3-0 shutout of Lansing on the road Friday, that was following a 5-0 victory Thursday over Eudora at home.

“The girls are doing well and starting to see the channels and passing lanes we need them to see,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “They are progressing well and this team is a lot of fun to watch.”

The Wildcats (9-3) got out to a good start against Lansing as freshman Rowan Yows scored the game’s first goal and gave Louisburg a 1-0 advantage at halftime.

In the second half, Lansing was called for a penalty in the box and the Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick. Sophomore Lola Edwards converted the free shot and doubled the Wildcat lead.

***Louisburg sophomore Hailey Sword (left) battles a Eudora player for the ball Thursday at home.***

Louisburg sealed the victory later in the second half when the Wildcats scored on an own goal and left Lansing with a shutout. Yows led the way with three shots on target, while Edwards and Lexi Hampton each had two.

“That was our third game in four days, so I think our legs were heavy, but we battled and played pretty hard,” Conley said. “We were also able to get a lot of players in the game and I felt we created a lot of opportunities in a very physical game. I think the girls responded well in an hostile environment and played our game. We had the opportunity to play a lot of kids again and try to save a little bit for our game (today) against Basehor-Linwood.”

The Wildcats’ legs looked fresh against Eudora as they dominated the match from the get-go.

Louisburg controlled possession and had 13 shots on goal. The Wildcats outshot the Cardinals 23-3, while Edwards and senior Reese Johnson each had a pair of goals to pace Louisburg.

“We came out and played pretty well,” Conley said. “We played fast and moved the ball well. We had a lot of opportunities and played pretty hard. It was also nice to be able to play so many kids to try to save some legs for our game Friday against Lansing. I felt we were pretty creative and played with a lot of heart. We were aggressive and played on our front foot. The girls played well.”

Edwards got things started for the Wildcats early in the first half when she scored following a free kick into the box by junior Bree Gassman.

Then late in the first half, Johnson dribbled the ball down the right side and crossed the ball into the box. The pass found the foot of sophomore Hailey Sword, who scored to make a it a 2-0 game at halftime.

Johnson got her chance to score four minutes into the second half when the Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick. The Louisburg senior found the back of the net with a shot to the upper-left corner.

Just a few minutes later, the Wildcats struck again. This time Yows initiated the action by dribbling into the box and crossed it over and Edwards put it away for her second goal of the night.

Midway through the half, Johnson put the game away with her second goal of the match on a shot that tipped off the Eudora goalie’s fingers and into the net.

Defense was a strength for the Wildcats in both games as goalie Sierra Hahn earned the clean sheets. As a team, Louisburg allowed only seven shots between the two games.