Wildcats beat Parsons to start busy week, but finish 1-2
(Photo by Randall Erickson) Louisburg’s Canton Klugman (left) and Cody Courtney try to get the ball away from a Baldwin player during the Wildcats’ road game last week.
The Louisburg boys soccer team experienced a mix of highs and lows over a busy three-game stretch last week, starting with an impressive 6-0 victory over Parsons on Oct. 6.
The Wildcats, unfortunately, suffered a pair of back-to-back one-goal losses to Baldwin and Tonganoxie later in the week.
“It was definitely a real mix of a week for us,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “The Parsons win was great — it took us a bit to find our rhythm, but the second half showed how well the team can adjust and finish strong, with multiple players contributing goals. Then, the back-to-back league games against Baldwin and Tonganoxie were tough. Those games challenged us physically and mentally, and we were dealing with some injuries and position adjustments.”
The Wildcats came out firing against Parsons, with senior Owen Marsh leading the charge by recording a hat trick. All three of Marsh’s goals were set up by Ryder Erickson, who also found the back of the net himself on a goal assisted by Parker Powers.
Cody Courtney and Ethan Kuhlman each added scores to round out the dominant offensive showing, while goalkeeper Evan Moreland earned the shutout in net.
Louisburg’s offense was held in check the following night against Frontier League champion Baldwin. The match remained scoreless deep into the second half until Baldwin’s Cooper Carr broke through with the deciding goal in the final three minutes, handing the Wildcats a tough 1-0 defeat.
Two days later, Louisburg faced another defensive battle against Tonganoxie. The Chieftains struck early and managed to hold off several Wildcat chances to secure a 1-0 win.
“Against Baldwin, we played to our standard, stayed disciplined, and showed a lot of resilience,” Bovaird said. “Against Tonganoxie, we faced a lot of adversity. Both games highlighted and reinforced areas we need to keep improving on, like finishing and defending set pieces, but the effort and focus were there throughout.”
The Wildcats now sit at 6-5-1 on the season and will look to bounce back today as they host Paola in a Frontier League matchup.
Overall, it was a week that highlighted both our strengths and the work ahead,” Bovaird said. “We’re still poised for a strong run here at the end of the regular season and getting ready for the postseason.”
Week 5 Athlete of the Week: Evan Moreland
Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week five of the fall sports season, sponsored by IronHorse Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.
EVAN MORELAND, SENIOR, SOCCER
Louisburg senior Evan Moreland reached a big milestone last week for the Wildcat soccer team. The Wildcat goalie recorded his 250th career save last week at Ottawa and has earned four shutouts this season, including wins over Chanute last week and Parsons on Monday.
Moreland currently has 19 career victories, which is third in program history and is third in program history with 12 career shutouts.
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the fall season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
Wildcats blank Chanute, fall to Ottawa in split week
Louisburg’s Brody Bovaird (5) celebrates one of his two goals last Tuesday at Chanute. (Photo courtesy of Randall Erickson)
The Louisburg boys soccer team showed both its firepower and resilience last week, starting with a commanding 8-0 road win at Chanute last Tuesday before narrowly falling 1-0 to Ottawa two days later.
Against Chanute, the Wildcats wasted no time getting on the board. Owen Marsh opened the scoring early, capitalizing on a through ball from Ryder Erickson. The floodgates soon opened. Tanner LaBrie doubled the lead with a composed finish off a one-touch setup from Brody Bovaird.
Bovaird then took over the scoring duties, netting twice in impressive fashion. His first came after a quick throw-in from Caleb Feldkamp, which Eamon Grove flicked into Bovaird’s path for the finish. Moments later, Bovaird split three defenders on a perfectly timed pass from LaBrie to make it 4-0.
Erickson added his name to the scoresheet next, slotting home from an assist by Wyatt Tharp. Marsh notched his second of the night with a rocket into the upper 90 after regaining possession in the attacking third.
Louisburg defender Grant Cannon shields a Chanute player from the ball last Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Randall Erickson)
The goals kept coming as Grove chipped in a 30-yard shot that dipped just under the bar.
The highlight of the match came in the final seconds as goalkeeper Evan Moreland pushed forward and scored his first career goal thanks to an unselfish pass from Canton Klugman. Moreland and Fritz Meyer shared the clean sheet in a match Louisburg dominated from start to finish.
“I was really proud of how the guys competed last week,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “Against Chanute, we showed great composure and execution — our movement, decision-making, and finishing were some of the best we’ve had all season. Owen and Brody both stepped up with two goals apiece, and it was awesome to see senior goalkeeper Evan score his first varsity goal late in that match.”
Two days later, the Wildcats faced a much tighter contest at Ottawa, falling 1-0 despite controlling nearly 60% of possession—marking their best ball control performance of the season. Louisburg outshot the Cyclones 9–4, delivered 12 crosses, and earned five corners while maintaining a 58% pass success rate.
But for all their creativity and pressure, the Wildcats couldn’t find the back of the net. Ottawa’s back line was disciplined, cutting out through balls and crowding shooting lanes. The decisive goal came late, after a no-call on a potential foul in the midfield led to a quick turnover, cross, and a close-range tap-in for the Cyclones.
Despite the loss, it was a memorable night for Moreland as he notched his 250th career save.
Louisburg senior Evan Moreland earned his 250th career save last Thursday in Ottawa.
“That is a huge milestone and is a testament to his consistency over four years,” coach Bovaird said of Moreland. “Against Ottawa, we controlled possession and created chances but just couldn’t find the finishing touch. Even in the loss, our effort, organization, and poise were strong, and we’ll keep building on that as we head into a big stretch this week.”
With the split results, Louisburg moves to 5-3-1 on the season and 2-2 in Frontier League play. The Wildcats are back in action tonight, kicking off a three-game week with a home matchup against Parsons.
Defense paces Wildcat soccer in perfect week
Louisburg senior defender Renner Erickson helped the Wildcats to a pair of 1-0 victories last week.
The Louisburg boys soccer team continued their strong start to the season with a pair of 1-0 victories last week, shutting out both Eudora and Lansing behind a strong defense and timely goals.
The Wildcats capped off their perfect week on Thursday at home, edging out Eudora thanks to a first half goal that proved to be the game winner. Midway through the half, defender Wyatt Guetterman launched a long throw-in, where Tanner LaBrie was perfectly positioned to slot the ball into the net for the game’s lone goal.
It also gave the Wildcats some revenge after they fell to the Cardinals the last two seasons and it kept them undefeated in Frontier League play.
“That win was huge for us,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “Eudora has beaten us the past two seasons, so to come out on top in a tight Frontier League battle was a big step forward for the guys. What stood out to me was the trust and leadership the guys showed. This season, we’ve talked about sharpening one another through unity, and you could see that on the field.”
Louisburg’s defense took care of the rest, limiting the Cardinals to just two shots on target. The back line of Conner Marsh, Ryan Barberich, Grant Cannon, and Guetterman held strong, with key contributions off the bench from Brayden Stringfield and Wyatt Tharp. Senior goalkeeper Evan Moreland recorded his second clean sheet of the week and continues to be a steady presence in net.
The Wildcats (4-1-1) had one scary moment in the first half where the Cardinals had an apparent open net and took a shot. However, Tharp read the play and knocked the ball out at the last second to preserve the lead.
“Our defense has been outstanding,” Bovaird said. “We’ve had two straight clean sheets, and that comes from more than just the goalkeeper — it’s the whole group buying into the press, staying connected through communication, and just flat-out being tough as nails. Evan made some key saves, and our back line of Conner, Ryan, Grant, and Wyatt has been rock solid. Conner and Ryan especially have stepped into starting roles this year after being reserves last season, and they’ve really risen to the challenge. We’ve limited both Lansing and Eudora to very few shots on goal, which shows the discipline and toughness of our defensive unit.”
Louisburg goalie Evan Moreland recorded a pair of clean sheets last week.
Earlier in the week, the Wildcats traveled to Lansing on Sept. 16 and returned home with another 1-0 victory. Sophomore Parker Powers notched his first varsity goal off a long pass from Owen Marsh midway through the second half. The defense again proved dominant, holding Lansing to just three shots on goal.
“Definitely a great feeling,” Bovaird said. “Lansing is always a tough team to play, and they had more possession of the ball than we did, but our guys showed real physical and mental toughness. We pressed well, created chances in transition, and capitalized when Parker Powers scored his first varsity goal off a great sequence starting with Grant Cannon’s interception. Then our defense and Evan closed it out. We’d lost to Lansing the past two seasons, so to go there and grind out a 1-0 win showed how much this team has grown.”
The Wildcats will look to extend their shutout streak when they host Spring Hill this Thursday and stay atop the league standings.
“Overall, last week was about proving to ourselves how far we’ve come,” Bovaird said. “In the past two seasons, we were outscored 13-1 by these same two teams, and this year we flipped that to two clean-sheet wins. That speaks to the work these guys have put in and the culture we’re building together. Going 2-0 in the league to start is huge, but we know it’s just the beginning — we’ve got Spring Hill coming up and it will be a big test.”
Marsh’s 4-goal performance leads Wildcats past Bonner Springs
Louisburg’s Owen Marsh (right) celebrates one of his four goals with teammate Tanner LaBrie last Thursday against Bonner Springs.(Photo courtesy of Randall Erickson)
Looking to bounce back after a loss earlier in the week, the Louisburg boys soccer team roared back into Frontier League play.
The Wildcats got the start they were hoping for with an electric first half against Bonner Springs, powered by a four-goal performance from senior striker Owen Marsh.
Marsh wasted no time setting the tone, scoring all four of his goals in the opening 40 minutes. He opened the scoring by finishing off a long throw-in from Grant Cannon.
The Louisburg senior followed it up by converting a pass from Ryder Erickson, who sparked the play with a midfield recovery. A few minutes later, he struck again as Marsh curled in a free kick to complete the hat trick.
Marsh’s fourth goal came after he chased down a long ball from Brody Bovaird, outrunning the defense and slotting it past the keeper.
Louisburg entered halftime with a commanding 4-1 lead. But Bonner Springs battled back — converting a penalty kick after a handball and adding another goal to make it a close finish.
Louisburg goalie Evan Moreland punts the ball away Thursday against Bonner Springs. (Photo courtesy of Randall Erickson)
Despite the pressure, the Wildcats held firm to secure their first league win of the year and are now 2-1-1 on the early season.
Just days earlier, on Sept. 9, Louisburg suffered a narrow 2-1 loss to a Class 5A Pittsburg team, conceding the game-winning goal in the final 28 seconds of regulation.
The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the first half when Cody Courtney netted his first goal of the season. The play started with a long punt from goalkeeper Evan Moreland, which Courtney controlled and lofted over the onrushing keeper.
Pittsburg responded late in the second half after forcing a turnover in the midfield and threading a pass into the box for the equalizer. The winning goal came in similar fashion — a midfield takeaway followed by a long ball that found the back of the net in the closing seconds.
Louisburg will try and make it two straight wins on Sept. 16 as the Wildcats travel to Lansing for match, before returning home on the Sept. 18 against Eudora.
Week 1 Athlete of the Week: Owen Marsh
Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week one of the fall sports season, sponsored by IronHorse Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.
OWEN MARSH, SENIOR, SOCCER
Louisburg senior Owen Marsh played a big role in the Wildcats’ first win of the season last Thursday against Independence. Marsh scored a pair of goals and had an assist in the Wildcats’ 3-1 victory. He scored on a penalty kick and then added a goal late on an assist from Ryder Erickson. Marsh assisted on the team’s other goal to Tanner LaBrie.
Earlier in the week, the Wildcats tied Basehor-Linwood 1-1 in their home opener, and Marsh took six shots on the night. The Louisburg senior was an all-league performer a year ago and is the team’s leading returning scorer.
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the fall season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
Wildcats bounce back with home win over Independence
(Photo courtesy of Randall Erickson) Louisburg senior Tanner LaBrie celebrates with his teammates following goal Thursday against Indepedence.
The Louisburg boys soccer team picked up its first win of the season in convincing fashion last Thursday night, rolling to a 3-1 victory over Independence after what was a tough home opener earlier in the week.
Louisburg earned a 1-1 tie over Basehor-Linwood on Sept. 2, but bounced back to get in the win column at home last Thursday.
“It was great to see the guys earn their first win of the season,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “We showed toughness and discipline, and it was a strong team performance from start to finish. We controlled possession much better, created a lot of chances, and really kept the pressure on Independence. I thought it was a good step forward, especially after the way we battled earlier in the week. After the Basehor game, we were having to navigate some injury concerns.”
The Wildcats controlled the tempo from the opening whistle, showcasing strong possession and sharp passing throughout the match. Louisburg had 21 shots in the match, while the Wildcats held Independence to just three shots on target.
Senior Owen Marsh led the way offensively, finding the back of the net twice — including a calmly converted penalty kick — to fuel the Louisburg attack.
Marsh also played a role in the team’s third goal, assisting senior Tanner LaBrie, who helped ice the match and extend the Wildcat lead. Ryder Erickson also notched an assist in the contest, helping Louisburg maintain pressure on the Independence defense.
(Photo courtesy of Randall Erickson) Louisburg’s Ryder Erickson races down the field Thursday against Independence.
“Against Independence, we did a better job keeping possession and stringing together some longer passes, which is something we’ve been working on,” Bovaid said. “We created 21 shots and forced their keeper to make a lot of saves. Defensively, our back line limited them to just three shots on target, which says a lot about how well our guys communicated and stepped up.
“Owen definitely had a strong game — he scored twice, including the PK, and also set up Tanner’s goal. He’s been a constant offensive threat and really helped lead the attack.”
The win followed a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Basehor-Linwood on Tuesday in the season opener. In that match, LaBrie opened the scoring for the Wildcats off a long pass from Renner Erickson, but Basehor-Linwood answered later in the half with a goal off a set piece to level the score.
“That match was definitely a battle,” Bovaird said. “We created plenty of chances, out-shooting them 21-18, but we didn’t take care of the ball the way we needed to. At times, we got caught playing their style — more long balls instead of possessing and making crisp passes — and that’s something we’re continuing to improve on. Still, the effort and intensity were there, and the guys showed a lot of grit pushing through two overtimes.
Now 1-0-1 on the season, Louisburg will look to keep the momentum going when they travel to Pittsburg for a road matchup on Sept. 9.
Wildcat soccer ready to take another step forward in 2025
Louisburg senior Owen Marsh is the Wildcats’ top returning scorer as he is one of 13 seniors on the roster this year.
Although the 2024 season ended a win shy of a regional championship, the Louisburg boys soccer team made big strides as it improved by five games from the season before and finished with a 9-9 record.
As positive as that season was, the Wildcats will have some retooling to do on the pitch in 2025 as they lost four all-league players from that team, including their two leading scorers and three important pieces to that defense.
With that, the Wildcats do bring experience back as they have a 13-member senior class that will look to guide Louisburg to a winning season this year.
“It’s a big advantage,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “Last year, we saw the difference a senior class with experience could make, and this group is going to bring us the same thing. They’ve been playing together for years — from LRC days through high school — and that chemistry really shows.
“Practice has been great. The guys put in a ton of work over the summer, and it really shows — from freshmen through seniors, the work rate and energy have been outstanding. Numbers are strong, competition has been high, and that’s been pushing everyone to get better every day.”
Louisburg has familiar faces returning on both sides of the pitch and it starts with Owen Marsh. The Wildcat senior tied as the team’s leading scorer as season ago as he finished with 12 goals and 11 assists from his forward spot and was an honorable mention all-league player.
Junior Brody Bovaird also returns, who was an honorable mention all-league player a season ago and will help in the attacking department. Seniors Caleb Feldkamp, Tanner LaBrie and underclassmen Cody Courtney and Ryder Erickson will also look to help fill the scoring void.
“Owen has been showing great leadership all summer,” Bovaird said. “He’s worked hard, and I think he’s going to see that pay off with a big season. We’ve also got several guys ready to step into bigger roles.”
The Wildcats also bring back some experience on the defensives side as well and it starts in between the posts. Senior Evan Moreland returns for his third season in goal and is one of the vocal leaders for the defense.
Louisburg senior goalie Evan Moreland will help lead the Wildcats as this will be his third year starting in the net.
“He’s taller, faster, stronger, and now has the confidence that comes with being a senior,” coach Bovaird said. “Having that kind of anchor behind the defense is huge.”
Senior Renner Erickson will take the field as the team’s starting defensive midfielder and will be joined in the back by Connor Marsh, Grant Cannon, Ryan Barberich, Wyatt Guetterman and Wyatt Tharp.
“Connor brings in a ton of experience from his club seasons, and he’s already been a vocal leader for us in the back,” coach Bovaird said. “Grant stepped in as a defender in the offseason and has really embraced that role. Ryan is another veteran with lots of varsity minutes and he’s very solid whether he’s at center back or outside back, and he makes great runs forward that give us an extra man in the attack.
“Wyatt Guetterman and Wyatt Tharp are tough, hard-working defenders who are very coachable and dependable. Renner will be stepping up as our center defensive mid, and his vision of the field makes him key to starting attacks from the back.”
Louisburg will begin its journey toward a playoff run on Sept. 2 as the Wildcats host Basehor-Linwood for a 6 p.m. match. The Wildcats are hoping for a successful season and know they will need several different people to step up to make it happen.
“We have a next man up mentality,” coach Bovaird said. “We graduated a lot of starters, but that doesn’t change our goals or how we approach the season. Our theme this year is fortis et fidelis — ‘strong and faithful.’ We talk about being mentally and physically strong, and about trusting one another and trusting the process.
“Practice has been great. The guys put in a ton of work over the summer, and it really shows — from freshmen through seniors. The work rate and energy have been outstanding. Numbers are strong, competition has been high, and that’s been pushing everyone to get better every day.”
Six Wildcats named to All-Frontier League soccer team
The Louisburg boys soccer team had six recently named to the All-Frontier League team. Seniors Colton Blue, Emmett White, Jacob Brown, Ethan Sharp, junior Owen Marsh and sophomore Brody Bovaird all earned all-league honors.
The Louisburg boys soccer team saw a big improvement during the 2024 season and the Frontier League coaches took notice.
The Wildcats doubled their win total from the 2023 season and reached the regional championship game. Although they ended their season with a 9-9 record, several players began to receive honors last week.
Louisburg earned five spots on the All-Frontier League team that was recently released, including one first team, and one second team selection.
Senior Colton Blue earned first team honors, while senior Emmett White was a second team selection. Seniors Ethan Sharp and Jacob Brown, along with junior Owen Marsh and sophomore Brody Bovaird earned honorable mention.
“Once again, the final four in Kansas 4-1A had a representative from the Frontier League with Baldwin,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “Year-in and year-out, our league is really tough. I thought we had pretty good representation, getting one player on the first team. I wish we’d be able to get more on the second team, but again, we had a very tough league this year. I was pretty happy to see our guys getting more and more respect from the league coaches.”
Blue was a team captain for the Wildcats and had a strong season in the midfield. He led the team with 12 goals, 11 assists, 37 shots on target and had three game-winning goals as he was a big factor for Louisburg all year.
“Colton has been the ‘drill sergeant’ of our program,” coach Bovaird said “Essentially, the last two years, he’s been such a powerful leader for the team. He commands respect not by being feared, but by setting the example, being vocal, and lifting up his teammates. This season, he’s led the team in nearly every stat.”
White earned second team all-league honors for the second consecutive season, despite battling an injury for most of the year. The Wildcat forward still managed to make a big impact.
On the season, he was third on the team with nine goals and tied a team-high 3-game winning goals. He also had four assists and 25 shots on target.
“Emmett has shown resilience and commitment throughout the season, playing through a serious injury that happened in the fourth game,” coach Bovaird said. “I’m so proud of his toughness. He only missed one game this season, and I think this was a huge inspiration to his teammates. Due to his selflessness and grit, he earned the captain’s band for two seasons in a row. Even with his ankle injury, he’s still our third-highest scorer this season.”
The Wildcats earned four spots on the honorable mention, including a pair of seniors in Brown and Sharp.
Brown has seen varsity playing time the last three seasons in the midfield and that continued this year. He tallied three goals and also had eight shots on target.
“Jacob has been like a second assistant coach for me the past two years,” coach Bovaird said. “We often talked about strategy, formations, and practice ideas, which was huge for our team. I felt like he really helped me grow as a coach. His knowledge has been one of the keys to our success, and as a senior leader, his impact on our offense has been invaluable.”
As for Sharp, he was a big piece to the Wildcat defense as a team captain and is a two-year starter on the Louisburg back line. He finished his season with a goal, an assist and contributed to five shutouts.
“As a captain and cornerstone of our defense, Ethan’s leadership on and off the field has been incredible,” coach Bovaird said. “We had four seniors across the back line, which was huge for our team this season. Ethan was a vocal and steady presence from our summer training to game day, anchoring our backline with confidence.”
Marsh was a big-time scorer for the Wildcats this season as he tied Blue with a team-high 12 goals and tallied four assists. He also had 25 shots on target and two game-winning goals.
“Owen built on a strong sophomore season by elevating his play, learning when to make the right pass, and figuring out when to go at the goal and take the shot himself,” coach Bovaird said. “This unselfish approach has led to a season-high goal count, showing the results of his team-focused mindset. His growth from last season and throughout this season led to a surge of success in the stats.”
As for Brody Bovaird, the Wildcats sophomore came off the bench to give Louisburg crucial minutes during several games this season as he had a goal, two assists and eight shots on goal.
“If ‘assists to assists’ were an official stat, Brody would lead by far,” coach Bovaird said. “He’s a playmaker on the wing, combining speed and unselfishness to set up opportunities for his teammates. Several coaches made comments about his speed with the ball as he flew down the wing. His quiet leadership and determination to fight for every ball make him a spark whenever he’s on the field. When he’s on the field for us, he makes things happen.”
GOALIE: Tom Bolarinwa, Bonner Springs, senior; Kaden Applegate, Spring Hill, junior
Week 9 Athlete of the Week: Emmett White
Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week nine of the fall sports season, sponsored by Edward Jones-Craig Holtzen.
EMMETT WHITE, SENIOR, SOCCER
Louisburg senior Emmett White scored the Wildcats’ lone goal last week, but it was a big one. White’s first half goal helped give Louisburg a 1-0 win over Chanute during the Class 4-1A regional semifinal game. It was White’s third game-winning goal of the season.
White, who battled a high-ankle sprain most of the year, ended the season with nine goals and had three assists as he helped the Wildcats to a 9-9 finish.
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the fall season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
