For the second game in a row, Dylan Brown scored two goals, helping Republic to a 5-0 victory at home over Greenwood Monday.
Brown put the Tigers on top with 13:13 remaining in the first half. He and a defender closed on the ball on the left side of the goal box, and Greenwood’s keeper came out to make a play. The ball popped free and Brown sliced it across the box into the opposite side of the net to make the score 1-0.
Coach David Ashby says Brown’s recent success is a result of his self-confidence growing.
“I think in the beginning of the season, he really had a bad habit of second-guessing himself and trying to get the perfect shot,” Ashby says. “He’s started to trust his instincts and just turn and hit it. It’s paid off for him.”
Eight minutes later, the Tigers scored again. Julio Quezada fed Dawson Sjomeling in the middle of the goal box and Sjomeling fired it past the keeper to make it 2-0.
Republic put the game away midway through the second half, when Quezada scored on a penalty kick. Brown followed that up with his second goal, giving the Tigers a four-goal lead. Tanner Peabody scored as time expired on a corner kick, heading the ball into the goal just ahead of the final whistle.
The Tigers improve to 9-8. Republic hosts Ozark Tuesday night.