Republic charged from the gate with an early goal, quickly answered after Ozark tied the score, then hung on the rest of the way to win 2-1 at home on Tuesday night.
The Lady Tigers wasted no time jumping on top. Just two minutes into the game, Bria Claxton fired a through ball from beyond the midfield stripe. Andie Wistrom chased it down, beat the Ozark goalkeeper, who had come off her line, and punched the ball in to make it 1-0.
About 11 minutes later, Ozark tied the score 1-1 on a goal by Willow Shelor, but that tie didn’t last long, thanks to a highlight-reel shot by Paige Elsenraat.
With about 23 minutes left in the first half, Macey Mitchell popped the ball over the back line of the Ozark defense, where Elsenraat was ready. She took one shot, falling down as the Ozark keeper dove at her and deflected the ball. Then Elsenraat popped back up again, beat everyone else to the loose ball, and delivered a perfectly placed shot into the far left side of the net as she was falling backwards. That made it 2-1, and Republic would hold on the rest of the way.
Ozark had several opportunities in the final minutes, but the defense held. Republic goalkeeper Awbree Berning leaped to deflect one shot over the crossbar as time wound down, and another Ozark shot hit the crossbar as Berning leaped to keep it out of the net.
Wistrom’s goal gives her a four-match scoring streak.
For the Lady Tigers, the win improved their record to 4-3, moving them above the .500 mark for the first time this season.
Republic travels to mid-Missouri for two games later this week. The Lady Tigers play at Jefferson City on Thursday and at Columbia Hickman on Friday.
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