Nixa jumped ahead quickly in a battle of Central Ozark Conference unbeatens, then cruised to a 5-0 victory at home against Republic.
Kelsi Moore put Nixa on top less than four minutes into the game when Republic defender Tyra Campbell tried to clear a ball out of the box, and it deflected off Moore and back into the goal. Moore scored again 20 minutes later to make the score 2-0, punching the ball into the left side of the goal after Republic failed to clear the ball out of its defensive end.
In the second half, Nixa added three more goals to pull away, including one by Moore to complete a hat trick.
Republic, which has been playing without injured midfielders Sarah Hicks and Nataley Montenegro since last week, has lost three games in a row after a six-game win streak. The Lady Tigers lost to Columbia Hickman 3-0 and Capital City 4-3 Friday as coach Kevin Hauck tinkered with personnel combinations to find the most effective lineup in their absence. Republic gave up seven unanswered goals to start the games in Jefferson City, then reeled off three in a row at the end of the Capital City game as the team adjusted to those changes.
The win Tuesday improved Nixa’s record in the COC to 7-0. The Lady Eagles are 12-4 overall. Republic falls to 11-8 overall and 6-1 in the COC. The Lady Tigers are tied with Webb City for second place in the league, one game behind Nixa. Republic hosts Webb City Thursday.
