Republic’s breakthrough came just in time.
After nearly 78 minutes of play, Sieb Kleeven controlled a ball from Mason Tackett off his chest, absorbed contact, and drilled it on the bounce. His shot found the net with 2:06 remaining for the only goal in a 1–0 win over Branson at the Kickapoo Shootout in Springfield on Thursday.
The late strike gave Republic its fifth straight victory and pushed its shutout streak to five matches — a new school record. The Tigers haven’t surrendered a goal since September 19 against Nixa, a span of more than 400 minutes. Goalkeeper Koal Williams faced only one shot on frame and saved it to preserve the clean sheet.
Republic tallied nine shots, with six on target. Tackett finished with two shots and the assist on Kleeven’s winner. Maddox Aldridge put three shots on goal, and Micah Wright added another chance in the first half.
The Tigers avenged a 3–1 loss to Branson in the championship match of the Webb City Kickoff Classic earlier this season. Since then, they have scored seven unanswered goals while improving to 6–10.
“I’ve said it since day one, even in a 1-10 rut—wasn’t for lack of effort or discipline, we just needed to find a way to score,” said coach Jesus Zuniga. “(It) doesn’t have to be pretty, just has to hit the net. Defend as a unit, and attack as a unit. They get better every half, every minute.”
Republic will return to action Saturday against Raymore-Peculiar as the Kickapoo Shootout continues.
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