Four years ago, Jesus Zuniga took over Republic’s girls soccer program, and some days only one player showed up to offseason workouts. This spring, 40 players earned jerseys and morning training sessions drew the highest numbers the program has seen.
The Lady Tigers went 17-7 two years ago and 14-9 last season, but graduated 40 of their 65 goals. Six starters return, the roster is deeper than it’s ever been, and Zuniga said the buy-in from this group has been the most impressive thing he’s seen since arriving.
“I think it’s just consistency,” Zuniga said. “Believing in what we want to do and staying true to it, consistently doing the same thing to where the girls know that those are the expectations and holding them accountable. We kept 40 girls — that’s the most we’ve kept. I think those little things are where we start to bridge the gap, and now we have to execute what we’re training.”
Two years ago, Zuniga’s message was about taking a first step. Last year, it was about the next step. Now he wants to close the gap between Republic and the programs the Lady Tigers haven’t beaten yet.
“My very first year, there were days it was just one player coming out and we were going one-on-one, or I was doing what felt like a private session,” he said. “Now it’s a whole team session.”
Awbree Berning returns in goal for her fourth year and holds the program’s career shutout record with 27. Bria Claxton and Emma Hoodenpyle are back on the back line alongside Shelby Romine, Gracee Phelps, and freshman Myla Baker.
Claxton has been playing next to Berning for years. “Kind of like a package deal back there,” Claxton said. “And then with everyone else next to us, we all just work hard to contribute to all the shutouts.”
Three of last year’s consistent defensive starters return, and Zuniga has talked about pushing Claxton higher as a holding midfielder to get her more involved in the attack while letting the younger wing backs push forward.
Claxton’s goal for the season is “flipping the script. Beating teams we haven’t beaten before. That’s really my main goal.”
Macey Mitchell and Paige Elsenraat will handle the midfield. Mitchell tore her ACL as a freshman and tore the other one as a sophomore, but she’s back for her senior year and has committed to play at SBU. Zuniga said Mitchell has taken on a coaching role in practice, holding younger players accountable on details that show a knowledge of the game that normally would come from an experienced coach.
Elsenraat gives Republic a playmaker Zuniga says they were missing for most of last year. He thinks she could score 10 to 15 goals if she stays healthy, between distributing through balls and cleaning up on the back post.
Christiane Ulsund, a foreign exchange student from Norway, adds to the midfield along with Ava Woolley and Evy Sparkman.
Jaclyn Wade and Andie Wistrom give Zuniga options up top. Wistrom started most games on defense last year but scored eight goals by pushing forward into the attack, and Zuniga wants to make that a full-time role alongside Woolley this season. If those two develop chemistry, Republic would have them together for three full years.
“I really don’t mind it. It’s kind of exciting for me,” Wistrom said of her potential position change. “I want to go wherever I’m more useful for the team. If that means scoring goals and getting ahead, or staying back and having a shutout — anything’s good for me.”
Zuniga said the seniors — his first four-year class — have pushed the younger players all offseason. “They know how to hold each other accountable,” he said. “They make it a really family-like vibe to where girls want to come out. I think that’s a huge tribute to our senior class laying a very firm foundation.”
Wistrom, a sophomore, said she’s felt it. “They don’t just let things fly,” she said. “They’re gonna hold you accountable and make you better.”
The Lady Tigers open against Smith-Cotton, Capital City, and Glendale — three teams that have historically had Republic’s number — before heading into tournaments at Kickapoo and Branson that include powerhouses Bentonville and Rogers Heritage.
“What could be a turning point for our program is if we can steal one of these wins that we’re not supposed to win,” Zuniga said. “And I think we have the group that’s willing to fight this year.”
Get every story delivered.
Tiger Wire — Republic sports news, free every morning.