DSHS lacrosse 'battles for the Hill Country'

The Dripping Springs High School Lacrosse Team hosted Lake Travis High School last Thursday night, March 9, for their annual rivalry game prior to Spring Break.

The two teams battled for the Hill Country with the winner taking home the BE16 Belt. The BE16 Foundation was created by Chris and Amie Frickel in memory of their son, Taden. The foundation supports players who play with a passion and intensity similar to Taden and promotes the following qualities in players: strength, authenticity, love, resilience, loyalty and leadership. Taden’s former teammates gathered before the game during the national anthem.

In front of a packed stadium at the DSHS Lacrosse Field, senior Aiden Kane, wearing Taden’s honorary #16, got things started with the first goal of the night for Dripping Springs. A few minutes later, Lake Travis answered. Kyler Parker then drove, finding Brady Taylor waiting on the crease for a quick hitter goal. Lake Travis quickly answered and evened it up at two goals each at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was knotted up through the midpoint when the Cavaliers turned it up a notch, scoring five unanswered goals in the final six minutes of the half. The third period was a defensive battle and was scoreless until Kooper Brown found Walker Wright for an outside step down shot. The Tigers went to the final period down 7-3. Drip would close it to three when junior Nate Tyo scooped up a ball on the defensive end, sprinted to midfield and found Noah Chomout streaking up the right sideline to fire a top shelf shot. Blake Morton would answer for Lake Travis with his fourth goal of the night, and the Cavs proceeded to extend their lead. The final Drip goal of the night was on a faceoff win by Owen Rhodes, who took it the distance for a goal.

When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 12-5, in favor of Lake Travis. Rhodes led the team in ground balls (six), and Wright led with two caused turnovers. Kaiden Grupp had five saves and earned the hammer for the evening.

Dripping Springs will take a week off and will return with games at home against Keller High School on Saturday, March 25 at 2:15 p.m. (JV at noon) and Allen High School on Sunday, March 26 at noon (JV at 2:15 p.m.). The seniors will be recognized in the Sunday game versus Allen.