Eleven seniors started the game for the Republic Lady Tigers on Senior Night, and they wasted no time asserting themselves in a 4-0 win over Webb City. Just 1:15 into the game, Samantha Minor found Shelby King streaking toward the goal, and King put the ball in the back of the net to make it 1-0 Republic.
That was all the Lady Tigers needed, but they got more before the end of the half, after the regular lineup returned to action. Sara Marcotte scored three quick goals in a 3 1/2-minute stretch, starting at with 13 minutes remaining in the half. Her first goal came after she split the Webb City defense and punched it past the Lady Cardinals goalkeeper from the middle of the box. Her second goal came on a corner kick lofted into the box by Sierra Casagrand. And her third came on a rebound after a shot by Minor was deflected near the goal.
At halftime, the Lady Tigers honored 12 seniors. The only one who didn’t start the game was Emily Cremeans, who’s injured. Besides Cremeans, the Republic seniors are Terra Chapman, Haley Willis, Hannah Willis, Shelby King, Samantha Minor, Mandi Peavler, Mikayla Jester, Laci Smith, Taylor Patton, Brandy Glessner, and Lexie Burns.
“We’ve had these girls now for three years, and it’s been pretty cool to watch them develop as players and as young ladies. We wouldn’t be here without them,” says coach Mike Hines.
“I don’t think any of them, with the exception of Sam Minor, had played any soccer before they walked out here for the first time. That’s an amazing thing to think about, because for our class, we’re pretty competitive,” he says. “It’s due to these girls. They decided they liked it and they wanted to work on it in the off-season, and make it a year-round thing.”