Spring sports get underway for Republic with a girls soccer match tonight at Kickapoo. The Lady Tigers held their Black and Orange scrimmage last night on their home field.
Coach Mike Hines says the girls are ready to get started on the program’s second season.
“I think we’re all very glad to have an opponent other than ourselves,” says Hines. “Attitudes are pretty good. Since this is the second time around, they were ready for the season and they’re glad that preseason is over with.”
Hines says some new players — including four or five athletes who’ve never played soccer before — have meant he still has a lot of teaching to do. But this preseason has been much different from last year, when the program was just getting off the ground.
“The learning curve is a lot quicker. They’ve been able to pick back up pretty much where they left off last year, which I’m very, very happy with.”
The Lady Tigers open at Kickapoo tonight at 5 p.m. Their first home game is next Tuesday against Rolla at 4:30.