Four Lady Tigers Land All-COC Spots

Four Republic players — all of them juniors who will return next season — earned positions on the all-Central Ozark Conference soccer team.

Ava Brown led the way for Republic with a first team selection as a defender. Her work in the middle of the back line, alongside second-team all-COC selection Brooklyn Claxton, helped Republic post seven shutouts among its eight wins during the season.

Molly Blades joined Claxton on the all-COC second team as a midfielder. Blades’s play on the wing set up some of her teammates’ best goals of the season, but she herself had one of the shots of the year when she blasted a 25-yard shot into the side of the net to end a 1-0 overtime victory over Carl Junction on Senior Night.

Forward Kendra Phiri earned an honorable mention slot on the all-COC team. She scored twice in three of Republic’s nine league games this season, against Webb City, Neosho, and Joplin.