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The Dripping Springs Lacrosse team traveled to Lake Travis on Thursday night to take on the Cavaliers in the traditional Thursday before spring break rivalry matchup. The last time the two teams took the field at LT was on the eve of COVID’19, with the 2020 Tigers losing by one in double overtime. This game would end up being the final game of the 2020 season and left a lasting burr in the saddle of the Tigers. Across town, the 2020 game is a favorite memory of multiple LT seniors.
Midway through the first quarter, Senior Jack Tanner got things started with a goal, assisted by Aiden Kane. Tanner would follow this up with an assist to Walker Wright a couple minutes later. Kane and Wright would add additional goals and the Tigers would take a 4-1 lead into the 2nd quarter. Ryan Williamson would handle the scoring in the 2nd period, adding two more goals and giving Drip the 6-2 lead at the break Owen Rhodes kept the possession clock in the favor of the Tigers, winning 15 of 20 faceoffs and 8 of 10 in the first half. The Tiger Defense held LT in check only giving up 2 first half goals to the combo of Reeve Kolinek and Jagger Davis. This combo connected on a 3rd goal in the 2nd half.
Halftime adjustments for the Cavs, and an increase in penalties by the Tigers, allowed LT to cut the lead to 2 goals in the 3rd quarter. The Tigers picked up a goal from Tanner when Brett Williamson found him open on the crease for a quick stick shot. The game went to the final period with the Tigers leading 7-5 and the intensity at peak levels. Both teams found themselves in the penalty box four times in the 4th quarter. The Tiger Defense would step up again, with goalie Kaiden Grupp recording 6 of his 15 saves in the 4th quarter. Juniors Greyson Jones and Keller Stafford provided outstanding lockdown defense on the quick and dangerous LT attack. The Tiger offense picked up goals from Kyle Parker and another one from Kane. After allowing a couple LT goals and the game on the line, Drip picked up a critical faceoff win from Rhodes and the offense was able to keep the ball moving and runout the final couple minutes for the 9-7 win.
The defense put together a masterful performance on the night, frustrating the LT offense, holding them to a season low 7 goals. Seniors Cody Smith and Gideon Schlab set the tone for the core defensive unit. Jonah Friedman and the Penalty Killers were dominant in their man-down mismatches, only allowing 2 goals on 9 attempts. Grupp took home the hammer for his performance in cage, registering a career high number of saves.
Drip will next take the field after spring break for Teacher Appreciation Night on Wednesday, Mar 23rd at 8:15pm. Westwood will come into the game with a high powered offense, touting a couple wins over the Tigers’ Central District opponents.
