Dripping Lacrosse opens the 2022 season

The Tigers opened their 2022 campaign Wednesday night against Smithson Valley. Junior Walker Wright carried the hammer into the season and donned the #16 in honor of former teammate, Taden Frickel. Each game this season, a player will earn the right to wear number 16 and attempt to bring the passion, energy and intensity that Taden brought to every game.

Finding themselves down 2-0 early, Dripping Springs Senior Ryan Williamson found his way inside for a goal kicking off an onslaught of shooting. The Tigers would amass 55 shots by 12 different players on the night in the 20-7 win. Williamson led the way with 5 goals and an assist, followed by Senior Jack Tanner and Junior Aiden Kane, with 4 goals each. Junior Connor Krystof contributed 3 goals and 2 assists.

Junior Owen Rhodes picked up where he left off in the fall, and won 19 of 23 faceoffs on the night. The dominance at the X gave Dripping Springs a tremendous time of possession advantage. The defense protected the goal, led by outstanding communication from Senior Cody Smith and 7 saves from Junior goalie Kaiden Grupp. R. Williamson took home the hammer for his tenacious play.

The Tigers traveled north this weekend for a Dallas two-step against Frisco and Allen. Game one, a cold and windy one against Frisco, started off tight, with Dripping Springs spending much of the 1st half in a man-down penalty situation. The Tigers were knotted up at halftime 5-5, finding themselves in the box seven different times. The man-down defense was stellar, only giving up one goal, led by Junior Jonah Friedman who forced multiple turnovers.

Kane led the offensive attack with 5 goals and 1 assist, followed by Wright with 2 goals and an assist. Tanner and R. Williamson each contributed 2 goals. The Tiger team defense locked down the Black Bears in the second half, only allowing six shots, forcing six turnovers and picking up 21 ground balls, leading to the 11-7 victory. Rhodes earned the hammer for his hard work on faceoffs.

The Sunday matchup featured the Allen Eagles, who are coming off a strong 2021 season that landed them in the inaugural Platinum Cup. Wright would start things off with two of his three goals on the day, getting the Tigers out to a quick 2-0 lead. The game tightened up after that with Drip hanging on to a 4-3 halftime lead. The second half was back and forth with 4 different ties and Allen taking their first lead with just over five minutes remaining, 8-7. Sophomore Kyle Parker knotted things back up at 8 for the Tigers with just under four minutes left in the game. The Eagles would claim their final goal and the win with fifteen seconds remaining.

Grupp and Sophomore Austin Reeves would combine in the cage for 14 saves and Senior Gideon Schlab would take home the hammer for his defensive intensity. R. Williamson landed 2 goals, along with Kane contributing 1 goal and 1 assist, both of them keeping their scoring streaks alive. Brett Williamson added a goal as well.

The Drip JV lacrosse team opened their season with a 6-0 win against Gateway. Both Tigers teams return home on Thursday. JV at 6pm vs Alamo Heights and Varsity at 8:15pm vs Georgetown. Admission is free.