Koal Williams scored on a backheel pass from Isaiah Redman in the 75th minute Tuesday night, a hard shot past the Joplin goalkeeper that gave Republic a 3-2 win and ended a five-game losing streak.
“I recognize all my teammates’ voices, and I just heard Koal behind me screaming for it,” Redman said. “So I was just like, I’m going to backheel it and hope he’s there. And sure enough, he was.”
Williams and Redman have played together since long before high school, and that relationship paid off on the final play. Williams knew Redman would get him the ball when he broke open.
“I trust him with everything,” Williams said. “Just playing with him…not only just high school, but club, playing with each other all of our lives. I trust him.”
Republic had several players back from injuries Tuesday, and Williams said the team got together for a walk at Wilson’s Creek to prepare for the night as they tried to end their losing streak.
“It’s the little moments like that, just.. being together,” Williams said. “Out here on the field, the energy was great, and we all played as a team tonight.”
Game page →Redman put Republic ahead in the second minute. Logan Renkoski found him around the penalty spot, and Redman placed it in the bottom corner.
“It was a great pass by him, and I wouldn’t have been able to score if it wasn’t for him,” Redman said.
Joplin tied it in the 27th minute and went ahead 2-1 on a penalty kick in the 48th. Those were Joplin’s only two shots on goal all night.
Williams, who started the season in goal before injuries moved him into the field, tied it three minutes later for his first goal of the season. He pulled Joplin’s outside back wide, Dylan Garrison drove into the middle and found him, and Williams placed his shot into the open side of the net.
Republic outshot Joplin 16-4 and put eight shots on goal. Williams had four shots, three of them on goal, and Landon Otero had two on goal.
“We only have three more guaranteed games left with each other,” Williams said. “So having that win going into a district game this Thursday as well as our senior night next Tuesday, those are two big games.”
Republic is 9-13. The Tigers play district opponent Neosho Thursday and host Webb City on Senior Night next Tuesday, Oct. 27.
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