The Dripping Springs Lady Tigers soccer team remained unbeaten in district play after a dominant 4-0 win over Lockhart in freezing temperatures Friday at Tiger Stadium.
The Lady Tigers ( 8-6-3, 4-0) did everything but freeze up as they overpowered the Lady Lions for all 80 minutes and controlled possession of the ball for majority of the game.
“Our defensive line is spectacular. I have a lot of girls even on the bench that can play in that spot if someone goes down. We are really deep.”
–Bailee Perrine, Lady Tigers head soccer coach
Dripping Springs was in sync from the opening kick and out shot Lockhart 33-0 for the game, including 16 shots on goal.
“Well, they worked really well together, we were able to connect some,” Dripping Springs head coach Bailee Perrine said. “It’s really cold so I definitely told them like ‘every touch isn’t going to be great, but you have to shake it off and you have to support your teammates’.”
Seventeen of Dripping Springs’ 33 shots came in the first half. The Lady Tigers connected on a goal at the 12:34 mark after a couple of missed opportunities early in the game. Lady Tigers sophomore Sofia Picucci scored after the ball deflected off the Lockhart goalkeeper and right back to Picucci, who had a wide open net in front of her.
Lady Tiger senior Zoe Flores got things going early in the second half as she dribbled and weaved her way through the Lockhart defense and nailed a shot into the top left corner of the net at the 39:48 minute mark to put Dripping Springs up 2-0. Senior Ziva Payer and sophomore Georgia Irons extended the Lady Tigers lead to 4-0 after impressive goals that they shot from outside the box. Payer’s 20-yard shot came at the 20:12 mark, while Irons hit hers with 6:51 left in the match.
“It’s really exciting to coach,” Perrine said about having multiple players with the ability to score. “It’s hard to defend a team that has multiple attacks. We’re practicing scoring outside the 18. It was really nice because we scored two from outside 18 and that’s what we practiced all day yesterday.”
While the Lady Tigers offensive attack was on fire, Perrine credited the team’s defense for holding Lockhart to zero shots and keeping possession for almost the entire game.
“Our defensive line is spectacular,” said Perrine. “I have a lot of girls even on the bench that can play in that spot if someone goes down. We are really deep. Obviously, I don’t want anyone to go down. But props to our captain Emma Jones for always being really solid even when it’s cold. Every pass might not be perfect, but I think that no shots is a big testament to our defensive line.”
Dripping Springs is on a five-game win streak and has outscored its first five district opponents 30-0.
The Lady Tigers return home Feb. 15 when they host Reagan at 7:45 p.m.
