Republic’s soccer team opened its season with a 4-0 victory over Hillcrest on Friday morning at the Webb City Shootout.
Will Pinnell scored the first goal with 21:41 left in the first half, assisted by Isaiah Redman. Caleb Miclea added three goals to complete the scoring.
Miclea’s first goal came with 2:26 remaining in the first half off an assist from Diego Zuniga. He scored again with 26:31 left in the second half, assisted by Mason Makoski. Miclea also converted a penalty kick.
“It’s really satisfying to know that all the hard work we put in this summer has shown on the field,” Pinnell said. “We worked really good as a team today.”
Republic coach Jesus Zuniga praised his team’s performance, particularly the shutout.
“First game of the season, a lot of things to work on still, but very happy with the results,” Zuniga said. “It’s very hard to get a shutout. (Hillcrest) is much improved from what I’ve heard and seen.”
Zuniga also noted the importance of getting new players involved. The Tigers scored four goals but had only one assist from last year’s leading scorer, Diego Zuniga.
“Getting goals, getting people involved who didn’t play lots of varsity minutes last year, that was huge for us,” he said.
Goalkeeper Koal Williams preserved the shutout with a diving save on a sharply-angled shot across the goal late in the second half.
The Tigers faced a quick turnaround with another game scheduled for noon Thursday.
