The old saying, “you could cut it with a knife” seemed fitting as Tiger Stadium’s lights had a hard time penetrating a heavy, thick fog enveloping the playing field and much of Central Texas on Tuesday, Jan. 28, when the Dripping Springs High School Lady Tigers (4-3-4 overall; 1-1-1 district) varsity soccer team hosted the Austin High School Maroons (2-5-3 overall; 1-02 district). It was impossible to see from one side of the field to the other and goalkeepers were hardly visible from the 50-yard line.
“This is crazy; I feel like I’ve only seen it like this one other time probably about six years ago and the fact that I remember it from six years ago speaks to how crazy this is. This is one of the thickest fogs I’ve seen in the evening,” Dripping Springs head coach Bailee Perrine said before the game started. “The refs were just talking to me about how they’re going to call what they see, but obviously their vision is going to be a little obstructed. Right now, I can’t see the other side of the field, so we’ll see.”
After 40 minutes of both teams taking shots on goal and the Lady Tigers having a shot hit the goal post, the teams were tied 0-0 at the half. The fog was no better, but no worse, when late in the second half, junior Lily Ruff scored a goal with an assist from freshman Adley Accetta to give Dripping Springs a 1-0 lead. Neither team could score after Austin was awarded a free kick tying the game 1-1, with about two minutes on the clock.
The Lady Tigers play Lake Travis High School and Del Valle High School before hosting Westlake High School at 7:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, and Akins High School at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18.
