Soccer teams primed for another successful year
The Dripping Springs High School soccer programs have been a constant entry in the playoffs. This year should be no different. Both boys and girls teams will start young lineups but have enough key returnees to keep the quality of play to the high standard they are accustomed to.
The Lady Tigers, coached by Bailee Perrine, finished last season 19-4-2 as district champions and a high state ranking. Their trip to the state tourney was derailed in the third round by Round Rock in a 3-2 loss in OT. Coach Perrine assessed her team this way. “ We are pretty young but everyone on the roster can be a game changer. I'm excited about the season because of how hard they work in practice and scrimmages”.
The Lady Tigers return six starters with seniors Kaleigh Howell and Taylor Hodsden are key players. Other letterwinners are Reese Nance (senior), Madison Mahorsky (senior), Alison Dement (senior), Gabbi Ridenour (senior), Annika Carpenter, Lily Ruff (sophomore), Shea Sisson (sophomore). Ellie Hodsden, leading scorer for the past two years, is recovering from an injury. Newcomers expected to push for starting positions are Ella Castillo (freshman), Alyssa Creekmore (sophomore), Sophie Jameson (freshman) and Rihanna Rogers (sophomore).
Coach Perrine is still trying to determine a starting lineup to start the season that begins Jan. 1. The team scrimmaged New Braunfels Canyon and won the scrimmage 4-0 with Addison Novosad, Emerson Barefoot, Lily Ruff and Ella Castillo scoring the goals.
On the boys side of the ledger, Coach Josh Hill welcomed five returning starters from the state finalist team (15-12-2). The Tigers really had a Cinderella type season last year. They had to come on strong in the final half of the season just to have a fourth place finish and make the playoffs. Each game in the playoffs, they were the underdogs but still managed to eke out victories, including two shootout wins. Katy Seven Lakes became the midnight of the story denying the state title with a 2-1 victory.
The returning starters are Joey Svoboda (senior), Parker Johnson (junior), Eduar Miranda (junior), Canyon Shaw (sophomore), and Ramsey Zogaib (senior). Reid Russell, junior and goalie, is recovering from a knee injury. Other top newcomers include Kyle Baucum (senior), Dylan Brasher (sophomore), Jonathan Juarez (junior), Reese Scheppler (sophomore), Kyle Kreuz (sophomore) and Logan Kraham (junior).