The Lady Tigers soccer team had a record-setting regular season. That makes the way it ended all the more disappointing.
Republic fell behind early and suffered a 2-1 loss to Hillcrest in the district semifinals, bringing their high-flying season to an abrupt end. Hillcrest got two goals in the first half, from Kelsie Cleeton and Haley Harrison. The Lady Tigers were unable to take advantage of four yellow cards against the Hornets.
The Hornets held on after Republic came out more aggressively in the second half. Republic drew within a goal when Jocelyn Carpenter scored on a breakaway with 32 minutes remaining, but could never get the equalizer. The Lady Tigers’ best chance to tie came late in the game, when a shot slipped past the Hillcrest keeper and bounced off the post, back into the keeper’s hands.
Coach Mike Hines says the loss stings, but it doesn’t take away the accomplishments of the team this year.
“We did some amazing things. Nobody expected us to do very well. We ended up 17-6,” Hines says. “We had 12 shutouts for the year. broke our scoring record. Six losses is the least amount of losses we’ve ever had. We’ve probably had the most cohesive group we’ve ever had.
“Tonight, we just didn’t play well. I couldn’t put my finger on it. We just let a couple in, and that’s soccer,” Hines says.
Even before the season began, Hines talked about his players’ determination to improve, starting with an early pre-season conditioning program led by senior Lesleigh Fenton. Does he think this season has raised the bar for future Republic soccer teams?
“Yes. It should. This team this year as a collective is more comparable to the teams I coached at Kickapoo. They’re making soccer a priority,” he says. “It’s important to all of them and they hold each other accountable, and that’s a compliment to this group of girls.
“We have some big shoes to fill with the exodus of our seniors, so we’re going to be having discussions with our underclassmen: what are you going do to do help fill the void?”