Republic scored twice in the first half and twice again in the second half, controlling the pace all night in a 4-0 win over Rolla at home on Friday night.
The Lady Tigers struck twice in quick succession in the first half, starting with a goal by Paige Elsenraat. From the middle of the field about 35 yards from the goal, Andie Wistrom played the ball ahead to Elsenraat on the right wing. Elsenraat chased it down, beating the lone defender, and fired it back into the left corner of the net to make it 1-0.
The second goal came after a series of good chances by Republic. Ava Woolley’s lofted a corner kick toward the front post, curling it into the goal off a Rolla defender’s back. If the ball hadn’t been touched by a defender, it would have gone into the net on its own, and that made the score 2-0.
Republic had several other opportunities to score in the first half but failed to put the ball in the net. One of the best chances was on another Woolley corner, headed just high by Elsenraat with about 90 seconds left before the break.
Republic’s third goal came in the second half after a Rolla foul about 25 yards from the goal. Macey Mitchell played the ball to Bria Claxton on the 20 yard line and Claxton settled, turned, and fired the ball along the turf into the right side of the net to give Republic a 3-0 lead.
Woolley scored her second goal of the night when Maddie Randall played the ball through from midfield. Woolley scampered up the left sideline, cut to the middle about 10 yards out, then threaded her shot into a narrow gap between the keeper and the near post, somehow finding an angle to get the ball into the net.
Republic’s 4-0 win is shutout number eight for the defense and Awbree Berning, who had a relatively stress-free night in goal. Rolla was unable to put pressure on Berning all night.
The Lady Tigers have won three in a row and seven of their last nine, as they improve their record to 12-6 overall. Their next game is at Nixa on April 28.
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