The Republic defense posted another shutout. Dylan Brown scored three more goals. All in all, the end of the regular season looked a lot like the rest of it, as the Tigers pounded Webb City 4-0 on the road Tuesday night.
All four Republic goals came in the first half. Brown got the Tigers on the board when he took a pass from Trenton Roetto, dribbled into the right side of the box, and slid the ball into the far corner of the net.
The second goal looked similar to the first, but this time it was Brown who picked up the assist. drawing the Webb City defense to the right side of the field, then finding Austin Beck open in the middle for the score.
Brown’s last two goals game within a minute of one another — one in the 26th minute and one in the 27th minute. The hat trick puts Brown at 44 goals this season. That’s a new school record, breaking the previous record of 41, which he set last year.
Republic rebounded from a 3-2 loss at Kickapoo Monday. That game had been the first time all season the Tigers gave up three goals to an opponent. It was also just the fourth loss of the year. But Republic’s defense turned in a solid performance in front of goalkeeper Dalton Ghan to post another shutout, capping the best defensive regular-season in the history of the program.
The Tigers are the #2 seed in the district tournament, despite their gaudy 19-4 record. Carthage (11-10) got the #1 seed based on its double-overtime win over Republic two weeks ago. Republic will open district play next Tuesday in Carthage against #3 seed Willard. Carthage opens against #4 Bolivar.
“We had a great regular season, but now we have to re-focus,” says coach Kevin Hauck. “Now the new season begins. Once you go into districts, it doesn’t matter what your regular-season record was. We’re going out now and putting everything in against Willard in the first round.”
