With a 30-mile-an-hour wind in their face for the 1st half, the Republic Lady Tigers managed to play even with Rogersville, 1-1. In the 2nd half, with the wind at their backs, the Lady Tigers ran away with it. Republic scored three 2nd-half goals on the way to a 4-1 road victory Thursday.
In the 1st half, Republic broke on top with a direct kick from Lesleigh Fenton.
“She crushed it,” says coach Mike Hines. “It moved probably six feet from right to left. The wind just made it dip and the goalie couldn’t touch it.”
After Rogersville tied the game before halftime, Republic came out after the break and took over the game. Rogersville didn’t get a shot on goal in the 2nd half.
Sara Marcotte scored twice–once after taking the ball from the left side and slotting it into the net, and the 2nd on an unassisted goal. Sierra Casagrand followed with a booming 30-yard kick that overpowered the keeper.
“It went right through her,” says Hines. “Not many keepers would stop that.”
Hines says he was most impressed with midfielders Morgan Jones and Jocelyn Carpenter, who made it impossible for Rogersville to get into a rhythm.
“They were everywhere. They were just disrupting the flow, and in the 1st half especially, (Rogersville’s) kids couldn’t turn and gather any space against us because Jocelyn and Morgan were all over them,” Hines says. “I was really completely impressed with their effort.
Hines says his young Lady Tigers continue to improve, and their passing will be a key to their continued success.
“Our defending is pretty good, we’re aggressive, we work hard on and off the ball,” Hines says. “So if we get that passing down, we’re going to be tough.”