Josh Hart scored with about nine minutes to play Saturday, and Republic made it stand up for a 1-0 win over Cassville in the championship match of the Webb City Kickoff Classic.
Getting to the title match took two penalty-kick shootouts — and two coin flips. Republic, Monett, and Branson all finished pool play in a three-way tie, because all three beat each other. Republic and Monett played to a scoreless tie Thursday before Monett won the shootout. Friday, Branson scored early, but Republic fought back to tie it 1-1 and won its own shootout. That left the pool deadlocked, so the championship spot came down to coin flips.
Republic won both of them to advance to the championship match for the third straight year.
Saturday’s final was scoreless at halftime, but Republic controlled the play. The Tigers outshot Cassville 12-4 and put eight shots on goal to Cassville’s one. Hart accounted for five of those shots, four on frame, before finally breaking through in the second half on an assist from Maddox Aldridge.
Cassville, which beat Webb City and Hillcrest to reach the final, had its best chance early. Zuniga knew set pieces were the danger — a Cassville free kick specialist had scored twice that way against Webb City.
Zuniga he saw his team improving throughout the weekend.
“We are still figuring ourselves out, but we got better every half, and every game,” he said. “I felt like we had a sluggish start the first half against Monett and then turned it on in the second half. Versus Branson, they scored early, and after that we amplified our intensity. Today, I felt like we started off better from the first whistle. Progress every game, every day. That’s all we can ask for.”
Zuniga came away with a clear picture of his roster, too.
“I learned that our boys are willing to adapt in midgame. They’re willing to work hard for one another. Their energy amongst themselves is contagious,” Zuniga said. “We have a disciplined group that’s eager to get better, and what makes them fun to coach — they know they haven’t even played their best game collectively.”
With two wins in their first three matches, the Tigers are already way ahead of last year’s pace. Their 1-10 start last year meant they didn’t win their second game of the year until September 23.
Springfield Catholic is up next on the schedule. That matchup will be varsity-only.
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