The Tigers didn’t find a pot of gold, but they did find a goal at the end of the rainbow, and it led to a 1-0 win over Lebanon. Playing in the rain under a bright double-rainbow, Josh Hart knocked in a rebound with 5:40 remaining in the second half to give Republic the only score it needed in a 1-0 win at home.
Republic had lost three games in a row and scored one goal during that stretch, on a penalty kick at Camdenton. But the offense came un-stuck on Thursday. The Tigers outshot the Yellowjackets 21-2 and put eight of those shots on goal, even though the game stayed scoreless until Hart’s goal. Lebanon didn’t attempt a shot in the first half.
“We just kept generating chances, so that just kept me going,” Hart said. “This game was a really good refresher and really just a good boost of confidence.”
The goal came at the end of a flurry in front of the Lebanon net. Angel Urquiza and Morgan Aldridge were both firing away, the Yellowjackets blocked one shot and saved another, and Hart was in the middle of the field to finish the rebound.
“I was lucky enough to have someone hit in a great shot,” Hart said. “I just got lucky in the middle.”
Koal Williams was in goal for the shutout, Republic’s fifth of the season and (unofficially) the 24th of his career. (A loss to Central on penalty kicks this season goes down as a shutout on the stat sheet, contributing to the total.) He had to make only one save, and it came less than a minute after Hart’s goal. Williams said he found out last season that he was in the running for the record, but coach Jesus Zuniga wouldn’t tell him the record until he’s broken it.
Game page →“It means a lot, for sure,” Williams said. “We’ve had a great defense that’s helped me out along the way, so I want to thank all of them as well.”
Williams watched his teammates dominate up front at the other end of the field, even as they were turned away from the goal most of the night. Lebanon’s keeper made seven saves, three of them on shots by Landon Otero.
“It does get frustrating, but I love to see it,” Williams said. “At least we’re getting shots up.”
Hart led Republic with four shots, and 11 different Tigers took at least one. Hart said the win should help in the games Republic has left.
“We’re just going to be more confident taking shots, because we know we can hit the back of the net,” Hart said.
Republic is 8-8. The Tigers play at Ozark Tuesday.
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