Tiger soccer comes close to state title

The Tigers were all hugs and smiles after winning at the UIL 5A State Soccer Semifinals. But after another hard-fought game, the team fell short of the state title less than two days later.

The Dripping Springs High School Tigers played the Jordan High School Warriors in a semifinal game at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at the Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex. The Tigers beat out the Warriors 1-0, scoring their first and only goal with nine minutes left in the game. This qualified the DSHS team for the final round of the state championship.

The UIL 5A State Soccer Finals were held at the Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16.

The Tigers were up against the defending state champion, the Wakeland High School Wolverines. While the Tiger soccer team had only made it to the state tourney once (2010), Wakeland had been in the last six. The two teams had also met earlier in the season, with Dripping Springs losing 2-3.

Although both teams brought their best to the game, Wakeland quickly gained the advantage in the first half. The Wolverines scored their first goal three minutes into the game, their second with 25:38 left in the half and their third with 3:48 left in the half.

Dripping Springs came back out aggressively in the second half, with numerous goal attempts and more time spent on the offensive. The Tiger defense was even stronger, shutting out the Wolverines from scoring any additional goals. But despite their second-half improvements, the Tigers ran out of time, ending the game 0-3.

The veteran-heavy Tiger team will see a number of seniors graduate and leave this May. As Dripping Springs moves into the 6A division next year, the program will face an increasing amount of pressure to grow and improve. Finishing as the secondbest team in the state in their division bodes well for the Tigers.