Four different players scored to help the Lady Tigers capture a Senior Night soccer victory over Monett Thursday, 5-0. It was the last game of the regular season for Republic, who heads into district play next week with a 14-7 record.
Emily Jordan got the party started with a free kick that sailed about 30 yards, floated over the Monett keeper’s hands, and settled into the back of the net. Although the Lady Tigers threatened several times, they were unable to score again before halftime.
It didn’t take long for that to change in the second half. Emily Griffith made it 2-0 less than a minute into the half. A few minutes later, after Anna Jones was knocked down in the goal box, senior Vanessa Hernandez stepped up and calmly deposited a penalty kick into the right corner to make it 3-0.
Jones got a goal of her own for the fourth score of the night, followed up by Jordan’s second goal to finish the scoring.
Jordan, Griffith, and Madi Mitchell each had an assist.
Jessica Laster and Jade Sawyer split time in goal, combining for the shutout along with the defense.
Before the game, Republic honored its eight seniors. Coach Kevin Hauck, in his first year as the head coach for the Lady Tigers, says the support of those seniors has been invaluable.
“They welcomed me in with open arms. That was really important,” Hauck says. “To have the senior class get on board with everything we were trying to do from the beginning, and to want it as much as they do, really helps a lot. That sets the tone for everybody underneath them.”
Hauck says their leadership has been important beyond what they contributed during games.
“They were very kind to me and I loved coaching them. I thought the impact they made this year was really important, not just because of what they could do on the field, but because of what their attitudes were like off the field and helping us lead this team in the right direction for the year,” he says.
The Lady Tigers have the #1 seed in Class 3 District 11. They open district play against #4 seed Hillcrest Monday at 4:30 in Willard.