The Republic girls soccer team needed just one half to dispatch Lebanon Thursday, scoring eight goals in a mercy-rule victory. Cadence Lugar led the offensive onslaught with a hat trick as the Lady Tigers dominated possession from start to finish. Republic outshot Lebanon 13-2.
The scoring came fast and furious for Republic, with Kaylee Cornelsen converting a penalty kick just 3:29 into the match. Less than two minutes later, Lugar notched her first goal on a breakaway, giving Republic a 2-0 advantage.
The flood of goals continued when Macey Mitchell found the net off an Adison Gibbs throw-in, and Claire Redman added another by cleaning up a rebound to push the lead to 4-0 with 28:57 still remaining in the first half.
Lugar scored her second goal on another breakaway moments later, and Cornelsen added her second goal with 18:46 left, finishing a rebound after a Bria Claxton was deflected off the crossbar.
Gibbs joined the scoring column with a goal, and Lugar completed her hat trick with 14:04 on the clock to cap the scoring at 8-0. Her final goal came on a cross from Emma Hoodenpyle.
“It was a good time. I enjoyed playing with my friends. We got to relax and kind of just play our game. Slow it down a bit, relax, have fun. Not a lot of pressure on that one,” Cornelsen said.
The senior co-captain sees elements from Thursday’s performance that will translate to tougher contests ahead.
“I think the possession we had in the game, knowing that we can take one to two touches, get it off our foot and find our teammates… helps in those bigger games,” she said.
The Lady Tigers scored all eight goals in a span of just 22 minutes and 27 seconds. It’s the second 8-0 win of the season for Republic, who finished off Monett early on March 28.
