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REPUBLIC, Mo. — Of all the things Dylan Brown could say about his team, he went with their battle cry:
#YUH
The social media hashtag started with non-soccer friends but eventually found its way to the varsity program. The meaning is interchangeable, but it has been thrown around plenty over the last couple months.
The main reason: Republic wins… a lot.
“It’s just really seemed like we’re catching fire here and rolling,” head coach Kevin Hauck said. “The kids really bought in to what we were trying to do over the summer and it’s built from there.”
The Tigers may be the hottest squad this side of the state. Their 1-0 win over Carl Junction on Tuesday marked their 13th consecutive win. They have already surpassed last year’s 13-6 mark for the most wins in program history.
Brown scored the only goal in the victory.
A lanky maestro of a forward, Brown towers over many of his teammates. His growth is since transferring to Republic from Cassville as a sophomore cannot be overstated. His first season, also the first for Hauck with the boys program, was not without hurdles, but the Tigers welcomed him with open arms.
As a junior, he rewarded that hospitality with 40 goals, enough to break the single-season mark of teammate Julio Quezada.
“That was amazing. It was a great feeling but this year I have to prove it wasn’t a fluke and that I can do that each and every year,” Brown said. “The only different between me having success now as opposed to my sophomore year is all mental.”
The senior believes Republic has had to prove something this season. With a goal scorer the caliber of Quezada now at Evangel, there was a sense the Tigers had to show they still belonged. They had done that with this current streak, while Brown has averaged over two goals per match.
He has found the net 33 times in 17 matches. He put up five goals in one half against Springfield Central last week.
“My defense has been telling me they’re tired of running up to help me celebrate, so that’s been my goal: to make them tired.
He could be on pace for a new record with six regular season matches left, but the college hopeful has something higher on his wish list.
“We’ve never gotten past districts. We’ve only ever won one district game, so we’re trying to change that. We want to become a winning program.”
Republic heads to Carthage in search of its 14th straight win on Oct. 3rd.
