For 78 minutes Friday, Republic’s rock-solid defense was exactly as good as expected. But back-to-back lapses in the final 100 seconds allowed Sedalia Smith-Cotton to steal a 2-1 season-opening win at Republic.
Macey Mitchell gave Republic the lead with 4:04 left in the first half. Ava Woolley played a ball from the right corner to Mitchell on the right side of the box, and Mitchell ripped a shot across the face of the keeper and into the far side of the net.
That goal held up through a second half in which Republic goalkeeper Awbree Berning kept the Lady Tigers ahead. Berning made a series of saves — knocking away a shot headed for the upper corner, leaping to tip a ball just under the crossbar, sliding to stop one with help from Emma Hoodenpyle in traffic near the right edge of the box, and coming off her line to take away what looked like a sure goal with about 18 minutes left.
But Smith-Cotton kept pushing and finally broke through with 1:33 remaining when Berkley Curry took the ball away from Republic’s back line and slipped the ball past Berning, who had left the goal line expecting a pass from one of her defenders. About 30 seconds later, Mia Cavanagh scored the winner.
Republic coach Jesus Zuniga said the two late goals were partly the result of a coaching philosophy that backfired in the closing moments. Republic passed up opportunities to push Smith-Cotton into a corner and run time off the clock, instead playing conservatively.
“We tell them to reset with our goalie. So really that’s a coaching error, because we want her to be involved and it was just a mishap — a bad touch,” Zuniga said.
Smith-Cotton outshot Republic and had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks. Andie Wistrom had Republic’s best scoring chance in the first half before Mitchell’s goal, firing a shot high. Paige Elsenraat had a chance with about 11:30 left in the second half, but her shot went wide right.
The last-minute loss was a tough start to the season, but Zuniga said he’d rather face the adversity now than later.
“I’d rather be battle-tested in game one than in game 26 in districts, whenever that could be our season,” he said.
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