By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Three weeks into the season, first-year starter Bella Drennan has already faced a year’s worth of penalty kicks.
And she’s done so with self-confidence and good intentions.
“I get really nervous and I ask (Coach Kevin) Hauck, ‘What do you think? Where do you think they’ll go? What about a lefty? What about a righty?’” Drennan said. “Honestly, I listen to what he says, but then I forget it when I’m out there and don’t do anything that he says.
“So I just go out there and every time I take a PK I tell myself, ‘You can do this. I believe in you, so you can do it.’ It gets me through it.”
The Republic goalkeeper has been in net for all three of the Lady Tigers’ PK contests thus far, including Thursday night at Central.
Drennan came up with a pair of stops in the penalty kick session to give Republic a 3-2 win (4-3 PKs) over Central. Sophomore Clara Fronabarger, who was a key player on Republic’s basketball team that reached the Class 5 final four last month, netted a pair of goals in regulation.
The outcome will have district implications come next month. Republic and Central are both in Class 4 District 10 along with Carthage and Joplin.
“It’s good to get in (Central’s) heads now, we beat them, so we know what to expect if we see them again in districts when it counts,” Drennan said.
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Central forged a tie late in regulation. In the 71st minute, freshman Holland Hawkins’ free kick found junior Kourtney Tucker for a header.
“Kourtney was really determined. You could kind of see the look on her face there,” said Central coach, Dr. Christine Welch. “We had been pounding and pounding away (at the net) all night, and couldn’t get much through. Finally, we got one.”
Central struck first in the 10th minute on a goal from Hawkins.
Hawkins, following in the steps of sisters and former Central stars Aspen and Ireland Hawkins, wore a captain’s arm band Tuesday night.
“She’s earned it,” Welch said. “She doesn’t play, talk or practice like a freshman. She’s a leader for us.”
Down 1-0, Republic got the equalizer from Fronabarger in the 37th minute. Off-balance and sliding toward the ground, the sophomore struck a ball well enough from about 30 yards out to put it through.
Fronabarger scored again in the 50th minute when she juked past Central’s backline in the middle of the field to gain space.
“It was kind of a misstep on our part. Not to take away from (Fronabarger); she’s a great player,” Welch said. “We knew going in who we were going to mark and we were going to mark her man-to-man and not let go of her. That’s what we did, but it was one of this times where we miscommunicated, slipped or got tired. It is what it is.”
Central goalkeeper Maggie Courtney made a handful of highlight-worthy saves throughout the second half to keep the Lady Bulldogs in the match.
Drennan made a leaping save in the 85th minute to deny what would’ve been a golden goal from Hawkins.
After two, scoreless 10-minute overtime sessions, it was back to penalty kicks. Again.
Republic beat Rolla in PKs on March 19 and lost to Rolla in PKs on March 22.
“(Defending PKs), it’s kind of a guess and go,” Drennan said. “Sometimes, it looks real good. Sometimes, it looks real ugly.”
Republic improved to 4-2 overall. The Lady Tigers will compete in the Parkview Lady Viking Tournament this weekend.
Central dropped to 2-3-1 overall. The Lady Bulldogs host the Southwest Classic this weekend, which features Southern Boone, West Plains and Logan-Rogersville.
“Losing in PKs is always tough, but the girls handled it pretty well,” Welch said. “They said, ‘(Republic) beat us, so we’re going to be the No. 2 seed. Then, we’ll get (Republic) in the finals,” Welch said. “I love that confidence.”
