Through 100 minutes of regulation and overtime play, the Lady Tigers had trouble getting the ball into the goal against Branson. Things didn’t get any easier when the overtime periods ended and penalty kicks began. Republic failed to connect on its first three penalty kicks, while Branson made all three of its shots to clinch a 2-1 victory and advance to the district championship game, played at Joplin Tuesday.
Branson earned its first district win and avenged a 4-0 loss to Republic during the regular season.
Although Republic had chances throughout regulation and overtime, its only goal came during the 60th minute, when Emily Jordan scored on a penalty kick after a Branson hand ball in the goal box. That evened the score at 1-1.
Branson had scored its only goal on a penalty kick as well, in the 44th minute. That penalty kick was awarded after Republic was called for a foul in the goal box.
The loss ended a rollercoaster of a season for the Lady Tigers, who suffered a series of injuries in opening the year with a 3-11 record. But they reeled off five straight victories after the return of Jordan, and seemed to be peaking as the playoffs began–only to lose their regular-season finale to Carl Junction and their district opener Tuesday night.
Still, coach Kevin Hauck says he’s proud of how the team handled adversity all season.
“I told them the season didn’t go how we wanted it to go, but I was really proud of them because they stayed together as a team. They fought together and battled, and they never game up,” he says.
The game was the last in a Republic uniform for Republic’s seniors: Jordan, Jessica Laster, Danielle Beck, Sydney Gill, Anna Strusz, Lauryl Hyde, Grace Cremeans, and Aleigha Balk-Adank. Hauck says two things stand out about that group that he’ll remember from his two seasons as their coach.
“They have pretty good leadership,” he says. “I’ll remember them for that and the toughness they bring. They don’t want anything handed to them. They want to work for it. That’s a great attitude to have and I’m proud of them for having that.”
Republic ends its season at 8-14.