A pair of seniors led the way for the Lady Tigers soccer team on Senior Night in Republic. Jocelyn Carpenter and Lesleigh Fenton scored two goals each as Republic beat Webb City 6-0 on a night in which the program honored six seniors.
Carpenter’s first goal came in the opening minutes, and Emily Jordan scored again before the 34:00 mark of the first half. Kheiara Dodd scored with about 13 minutes remaining in the half, and Republic led 3-0 at halftime.
Fenton made it 4-0 on a free kick from about 20 yards out, Carpenter followed that up with her second goal of the night on an assist from Fenton, then Fenton scored a second time on an assist from Carpenter.
Carpenter and Fenton were among the six seniors honored at halftime, along with Morgan Jones, Morgan Cantrell, Michayla Shanks, and Savannah Wright. Jones says the camaraderie of the senior class, and the rest of the team, has been an important part of her high school career.
“This team has really been everything to me, going through high school. It’s been an escape from the work and the drama and everything,” she says. “We’re more of a family than we are a team. It’s been really cool to come and get close to all these girls throughout all the years and help grow this program at this school.”
This year’s team is 16-5, the best record in the history of the program. But despite that, Hines says he’ll remember this group of seniors for what they contributed off the field.
“The enjoyment that they bring to practice and games and in the school building throughout the year has been fantastic. Every time you see one of them, they’re happy. That’s something that I will always appreciate about this group,” Hines says.
“Lesleigh Fenton is just a fantastic leader.
“Morgan Cantrell has been that person who keeps everybody in a positive mood.
“Morgan Jones is going to be the first female president of the United States. That’s the caliber of individual that she is. She’s the emotional lightning rod for this team.
“(Michayla) Shanks, having been her first season to play soccer, has just done a fantastic job and she’s happy to come to practice every day. Her work ethic is excellent.
“Savannah Wright has always been an individual who would do what we asked her to do for the team.
“Jocelyn Carpenter: her play can be an emotional spark plug for us. She’s always been a consistency on defense, but it’s been nice to watch her evolve this year into the offensive force that she’s become.”
“They take care of each other, and that’s what’s important, and it will be missed.”