Wildcats control possession, game

Fort Scott's Allen Pearson (17) tries to get the ball past Louisburg's Stephen McTeer (10) and Vasil Rastov during first-half action at Ellis Park Tuesday afternoon. The visiting Wildcats won the game 5-2 in the season opener for both schools. (Captured Images/Kenny Felt)

It's hard to win in any sport when you don't have the ball. And Louisburg made sure Fort Scott High's soccer team didn't have it about 80 percent of the time as the Wildcats took a 5-2 win at Ellis Park Tuesday in the season-opening match for both teams.

Just to demonstrate how much possession Louisburg had, match stats show that the Wildcats took 42 shots in the game. Fort Scott was able to take just four shots.

The key to getting possession is winning what's called the "50-50 ball." That's when a ball gets played out into the open and players from each team have an equal chance to get it. More often than not, according to Fort Scott head coach David Gray, Louisburg won those 50-50's.

"We need to work on those," Gray said. "Every time it went out into the middle, they got it. They either outjumped us or outhustled us to the ball. They were in the right spots and we were always a step behind."

Louisburg held a 3-0 lead at halftime as Vasil Rastov, Woody Watson and Stephen McTeer scored goals. But the Tigers began to get some wins on the loose balls early in the second half.

Josh Buller scored Fort Scott's first goal off a pass from Matt Scharenberg in the 57th minute of play. Just a bit later, Josh Buller scored on a free kick from about 30 yards out after a foul to bring the Tigers within one.

But Louisburg began to dominate again as it did in the first half and scored again in the 68th minute as Ryan Fuerborn found the net. Ristov got his second goal two minutes into stoppage time to seal the win for Louisburg.

Facing immense pressure, Tiger goalkeeper Grant Wells recorded 16 saves. The defense was tested frequently since Fort Scott was having trouble getting a transition game going and, really, allowing only five goals when facing so many shots says it performed well.

"The defense is coming along," Gray said. "We are still figuring out who belongs where. But I was they playing more together and covering for each other.

"Now we have a week to prepare for the next one. We'll work on some things like transition and winning some of those balls in the middle."

Louisburg also won the junior varsity game 2-0. The Tigers were held without a shot in this game. Kenny Withers made six saves in the first half in goal for Fort Scott, including one on a penalty shot. Wells made six saves in the second half including two from point-blank range.

Fort Scott's teams travel to Independence, the defending Class 4-3-2-1A State champion, Tuesday. The Tigers will be back home Sept. 11 for a match against Pittsburg.

L -- Anthony Fuerborn (no goals, 1 saves; Nick Stefan (41st min., 2 goals, 1 save) FS -- Grant Wells (5 goals, 16 saves).

L -- Vasil Rastov (Jamison Parkhill), 7th min.

L -- Woody Watson (unassisted), 37th.

L -- Stephen McTeer (Ray Crosswhite), 40th.

FS -- Jesse Brown (Matt Scharenberg), 57th.

FS -- Josh Buller ( unassisted), 62nd.

L -- Ryan Feuerborn (unassisted), 68th.

L -- Rastov, 2 (unassisted), 80th.