The Lady Tigers soccer team gave up a goal for the first time in five games, but still ran their winning streak to five in a row with a 3-1 win over Joplin McAuley Thursday. Sara Marcotte scored a hat trick to lead the offense for the Lady Tigers.
Marcotte’s first two goals came about ten minutes apart in the 1st half — one about seven minutes in, and another with about 23 minutes left in the half.
McAuley got back within striking distance in the 2nd half, scoring on a breakaway with about 25 minutes left. But Marcotte’s 3rd goal a few minutes later put the game away for Republic.
“We’re light years ahead of where we were the first week,” says coach Mike Hines, who credits a lineup switch for a big part of the five-game winning streak. Hines moved Jocelyn Carpenter from center midfield to right outside midfield, swapping positions with Samantha Minor.
“Sam… has a great work ethic. And Jocelyn has taken to the outside right mid, and we’re getting a lot of attack up the right side.
“But I think the main thing is that we’ve preached from day one getting back on defense in numbers, so we’re recovering. Then add the fact that our passing has improved since the first two or three games,” Hines says. The Lady Tigers had turned in four shutouts in a row before today’s goal.
The Lady Tigers improved to 7-3 this year. They’re back in action tomorrow on the road at Ozark.