Bolivar’s Late Goal Topples Republic

Bolivar scored on a long free kick with less than a minute remaining to beat Republic 3-2 Thursday night. The game-winning goal was the third of the night for Sarah Peterson, who provided all the Bolivar offense.

Just three minutes earlier, Republic had seemed to seize the momentum, tying the game 2-2 in the 76th minute on a corner kick from Anna Jones to Madi Mitchell. The tying goal came at the tail end of a flurry of offensive activity for the Lady Tigers, who had upped their intensity in the final ten minutes of the game.

Republic jumped ahead 1-0 in the eighth minute when Abbie Hicks scored off a deflection, assisted by Emma Pearce. Hicks muscled her way past the defender and touched the ball past keeper Reaghan Lesh into the right side of the net.

Peterson scored her first goal just about three minutes later to tie the game, and it stayed that way until halftime. Republic missed two good scoring opportunities, though. One was an open net after the Bolivar keeper came off the line, but the Lady Tigers couldn’t finish. The Lady Tigers also had a penalty kick blocked in the first half.

Peterson’s second goal came 15 minutes into the second half to make the Bolivar lead 2-1, setting up the wild, back-and-forth finish.

“I’m disappointed. I thought we were unfocused made some errors that we shouldn’t have made,” says coach Kevin Hauck. “I thought this was a game we should have won, and we just committed too many errors.”

The Lady Tigers travel to Jefferson City this weekend for two games, beginning tomorrow night. It’s a quick turnaround after two disappointing losses this week.

“We’ve got to re-focus,” says Hauck. “Yo’ve got to shake this one off and be mentally ready for the next one. That’s just how the season is, game-by-game. You’ve got to be ready to play every game.”

REPMO DIGEST

Choose your teams. Check your inbox. Sign up now for our brand-new customized newsletter.