.png)
It was odd to experience the rapid loss of heat and light during the total solar eclipse on April 8. Similarly, after shining brightly all season, Dripping Springs High School Lacrosse experienced their own kind of eclipse.
Returning from Spring Break, four lacrosse losses have cast a shadow over what had been a pretty sunny season up to that point. Other than an 11-8 home win against Anderson, all of DSHS’s most recent games have been on the road against great teams. Drip traveled from March 23 through April 6 to face Dallas and San Antonio area squads, who now boast a collective 36-9 record. While road game results have been tough to process for Dripping Springs coaches and players, there have been positives.
After Spring Break, DSHS looked rusty but still notched a gritty win against Anderson. DSHS then traveled to Dallas for their ‘Senior Trip’ to face talented and well coached Class B North District teams, Prosper and Lovejoy. Both games followed a similar script where Dripping Springs would keep the game close until the third quarter. Then Prosper and Lovejoy would pull away for wins. DSHS scored a combined 15 goals versus 25 against.
After the Dallas trip, DSHS traveled south to Spring Branch to face another well coached squad, Smithson Valley. Just how good Smithson Valley was seemed to take Dripping Springs players and coaches by surprise.
At the end of the first half, with just two DSHS goals scored and eleven scored against, Smithson Valley seemed to have Drip’s number. After some halftime soul searching, an early third period goal on manup play by Junior Attackman Noah Booth injected some needed energy. For the rest of the game, Drip played better, nearly matching Smithson Valley effort and points. The final score was 9-19, Smithson Valley.
The Saturday, April 6, game against TMI Episcopal High School was expected to be a tough matchup. TMI’s All-District and State Runner-up Face Off specialist gave the Panthers consistent early control of the ball. When Dripping Springs would gain possession, TMI’s defense was effective in disrupting Drip transitions.
Drip was able to muster a few solid offensive sequences where senior attackman Kyle Parker, senior midfielders Lucas Willingham and Truman Householder, junior attackmen Dominic Bruni and AJ Deer and Junior Midfielder Tucker Walls all had points. Drip was down by double-digits at the half and never could stop the TMI avalanche. The final score was 5-22, TMI.
Recent Hammer Practice Player Awards include senior defenseman Jax Meyers, senior defenseman Ren Rosario and AJ Deer.
Drip faces Westwood on April 10, last year’s Class B state champion, and will be preparing to face another Central District Class B juggernaut, Alamo Heights at home on Saturday, April 13.
