Vipers strike revenge on Dripping Springs lacrosse

The Tigers battled Austin rush hour to face their crosstown rival Vandergrift under the lights Thursday. The Vipers were ranked ninth in the State, Drip ranked 13th. The Vipers had not beaten Dripping Springs for four years and were primed to exact revenge on the Tigers. They did with a 13-6 beatdown.

Game play started off hot in Cedar Park Stadium with Alex Schlab winning the opening face-off, something the Dripping Springs coaches were concerned about. Three minutes later, Tiger junior Jack Tanner dumped in a niffy golf swing on a rebound to give the Tigers what would be their only lead of the evening. Ninety seconds later, Viper senior Ethan McKinley answered and tied the score. He then scorched the twines from the exact same spot as his first goal with five minutes left in the first quarter. Vandegrift led 5-1 at the end of the first quarter.

Junior Ryan Williams stung the net to cut the Viper lead to three early in the second quarter and Drip would never get closer. Vandegrift’s McKinley would score all of his five goals in the first half. The Tigers trailed 4-9 at half. The second half was a seesaw of scoring. The concern of the Viper face off specialist junior Griffin Shaffer was verified. Shaffer would end up 18 of 22 at the X.

Head Coach Bill Cafferata reflected on the loss, “Losing a district game is always disappointing especially when it’s a team you haven’t lost to since 2016. Austin’s Class A division (the top division in Texas) is historically strong, this year we have five teams in the top 13. Even though we have already clinched a state playoff birth, losing to Vandegrift makes our Austin High game a mustwin to make the district tournament in May.”

Tanner finished the night with two goals. Sophomore Aiden Kane and senior Charles Hunt kept their scoring streaks intact. Kane had a goal and an assist, preserving his points in every game this season alive. Hunt got a bucket and has now had a goal in 16-straight games dating back to the 2020 season. Sophomore Greyson Jones won the team hammer for hard work.

The Tigers will be playing #2 ranked Westlake when this article goes to press on Tuesday night. Drip as a record of 6-3. They face non-district foe McKinney at Drip on Saturday at noon.