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The Dripping Springs High School lacrosse team kicked off the season last Wednesday evening at home against Round Rock High School.
Senior midfielder, Owen Rhodes, did not take long to fire up the home crowd. Rhodes took the opening faceoff the distance and scored before the scorekeeper could hit go on the clock. The Tigers built on this momentum as five different players would find the back of the net in the first quarter. Sophomore Brady Taylor scored on an assist from the stick of Noah Chomout, the first of two goals for Taylor in the first quarter. Seniors Connor Krystof, Greyson Jones and Aiden Kane each added goals for a 6-0 lead at the end of one. DSHS extended the lead to eight at the half behind goals from Kane and Kooper Brown.
The offense continued the onslaught in the second half. Juniors Kyle Parker and Lucas Willingham connected for the first goal, and Taylor quickly found Krystof on the next possession to extend the lead to 10-0. Parker would net two goals himself in the third period, and Rhodes would add another. Scoring was capped off in the fourth quarter when senior Jonah Friedman found sophomore Clive Wahl for the goal.
A strong faceoff performance (14-5) by Rhodes and Willingham allowed the Tigers to control possession for most of the game. The defense held Round Rock scoreless in the first half, winning ground balls, forcing turnovers and holding shots to a minimum. Goalies Kaiden Grupp and John Ault combined for the 14-2 opening day victory. Defender Nate Tyo received the hammer for his tenacious effort.
The Tigers took to the field again Friday, Feb. 10 for the second game in their homestand against TMI Episcopal. DSHS jumped out to a 3-2 lead in the first quarter behind goals from Brown, Willingham and Kane. TMI would come back in the second quarter, scoring four straight goals to take a 6-3 halftime lead. After a second quarter with only five shots, the Tigers increased the intensity in the third period, firing 15 shots and scoring four goals. Krystof and Jones started the second half with a quick goal — each followed by a goal from Kane. Late in the quarter, senior Walker Wright drove and scored to cut the deficit to 9-7 at the end of the third.
The Panthers, however, would use the fourth quarter to distance themselves and extend the lead. Parker and Taylor would each add goals, but TMI held a 14-9 lead at the buzzer. TMI senior Ben Hockenson finished with five goals. Kane led the Tigers offensively with two goals and an assist. Rhodes (7) and Friedman (5) led the team in ground balls, and Parker forced three turnovers. Kooper Brown earned the hammer for the Tigers. Dripping Springs (1-1) will face Westwood High School (1-0) on the road Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Westwood is coming off of a 25-5 win over Frisco High School in their season opener.
