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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Kelsi Moore couldn’t take credit.
When it appeared the Nixa senior had scored her third goal of the match and achieved a hat trick, Moore set the record straight.
Junior defender Josie Karlson scored the goal, not Moore.
Moore was just there for backup.
“I just wanted to make sure people gave credit to Josie because that was a really good goal,” Moore said. “I was there to finish it in case (the ball) didn’t go in. They announced my name and I was like, ‘No, that’s not me.’”
Nixa had plenty of opportunities to share the wealth in a 5-0 win over Republic on Senior Night. Four Lady Eagles found the back of the net; Moore scored twice in the first half as Nixa led 2-0 at halftime.
With the win, Nixa (12-4 overall, 7-0 league) now sits alone in first place in the Central Ozark Conference. The Lady Eagles have outscored their conference opponents by a combined margin of 41-1 this season.
Nixa took control from the start on Tuesday night.
Moore scored off a deflection in the 4th minute. She scored again in the 15th minute after Republic failed to clear a ball that bounced around in the box.
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“We put pressure on (Republic) and the pressure got to them a little bit,” said Nixa coach Evan Palmer. “We had kind of unorthodox goals – one where (Republic) kicked it off of us and it went in – but at that point we’ll take it and get the lead.”
On the second goal, Moore initially set up Katie Kamies for a one-timer. Kamies’ shot missed, but Moore was there to put away the rebound.
“I was just putting some pressure on (Republic) and the (defense) slipped up a couple times and I just finished the opportunity,” Moore said. “When they gave me the rebound, I just made sure I was there to get the goals.”
For senior night, Nixa started all 11 of its 2021 seniors, including a hobbled Lexi Rapert.
Rapert, a defender, suffered a season-ending knee injury just a few weeks into the season.
She joined her senior teammates – many of whom have played together since pee-wee ball – in the starting lineup Tuesday night.
“It was really cool that all 11 of us (seniors) got to start, even Lexi,” Moore said. “I’m not sure how many times we’ll be able to do that the rest of the season.”
Rapert took the opening kickoff and exited the match a few seconds later.
“Republic was very nice and let us do that,” Palmer said. “They had to kick it out for us to get a sub, so we just threw it back to them.
“(Lexi’s injury) isn’t a long injury in terms of time, but she wouldn’t be back until early or mid-June,” Palmer said. “At least we got her a start tonight.”
Nixa put the game away for good in the 59th minute, when senior midfielder and co-captain Abby Harrison blasted home a shot from about 25 yards out to make it 4-0.
Long shots are nothing new for Harrison, although she switched up her style for this one.
“I think I’ve always been more of a long-distance shooter. My position (midfield) really plays a role in that, just being able to hang back and see if the ball pops out or something,” Harrison said. “Tonight, I actually dribbled it through a couple of defenders and saw the goalkeeper on the near post. I put it back post and it went in.”
Harrison’s goal came minutes after Republic nearly got within 3-1. The Lady Tigers mistimed a tap-in goal on an empty net in the 52nd minute.
Karlson, not Moore, capped Nixa’s win with a deep shot in the 71st minute that found its way through. Nixa senior Elena Mende scored early in the second half to give the Lady Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Nixa has now won 11 straight matches over Republic dating back to 2011. The two teams could meet again in a few weeks in the Class 4 District 11 tournament finals.
Republic hosts Webb City (15-3 overall) this Thursday. Nixa hosts Neosho the same night.
Nixa 5, Republic 0
Republic 0 0 — 0
Nixa 2 3 — 5
First half
Nixa (4’) – Kelsi Moore
Nixa (15’) – Moore
Second half
Nixa (46’) – Elena Mende
Nixa (59’) – Abby Harrison
Nixa (71’) – Josie Karlson
