*Editor’s note: Updated to correct attribution of Rolla’s three goals to Faith Coates.*
Spring sports don’t always mean spring weather. The Lady Tigers learned that in their season-opening loss to Rolla Monday on a cold, rainy night in Republic. The Lady Tigers’ young lineup had trouble sustaining an attack, and Rolla took advantage of defensive breakdowns to score its three goals.
“We struggled a little bit more on defense than I thought we would,” said coach Kevin Hauck. “Our rotation was a little bit slower and (we were) not really supporting each other like I would have liked to.”
Faith Coates put Rolla on top 17 minutes into the first half, after a penalty on Republic just outside the box. She quickly set up and floated a free kick from left to right over the arms of Republic goalkeeper Graci Coleman to give Rolla the lead.
Coates made the score 2-0 on a breakaway with 10:43 remaining in the first half. Coates’s third goal early in the second half accounted for the final score.
Eight of Republic’s 11 starters are freshmen or sophomores. After failing to score during the pre-season jamboree and being shut out in the regular-season opener, Hauck said he’s confident the offense will find its footing when his young lineup stops pressing.
“Once we learn to find the back of the net, some things will calm down for us. It’s only the first game, but frustration can build (when) going through the jamboree and the first game without scoring a goal,” he said. “I told the girls… we just have to continue to learn, to play with each other, (and) keep possession of the ball.”
During the second half, despite failing to score, Republic put together better stretches of play.
“On and off throughout the second half, we had really good spurts where we … could move the ball around them and create opportunities,” Hauck said. “So it’s there. We just need to fully connect now.”
The Lady Tigers are 0-1. They return to action at Rogersville Thursday.