As the sun started to set at Rattler Stadium April 4, so went the Dripping Springs Tigers’ regional tournament hopes.
A late Boerne Champion Charger goal scored with eight minutes left in the game signaled the end of Dripping Springs’ season in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in the Region IV, 5A quarterfinals.
While the finish marks one of the best in several years for the program, the knowledge of letting a 2-0 first half lead slip away resonated with sophomore Jessica Carmichael.
“Next year, we’re going to fight hard and we’re going to try and make it to state,” Carmichael said. “I don’t want this to happen again.”
Dripping Springs (15-6-4) hit the ground running in the first half by seizing control of possession.
Lindsay Able, Lady Tiger head coach, said the game plan was to work the ball to the team’s outside forwards, who would then speed past Champion defenders in order to serve the ball into the 18-yard box.
Carmichael said the strategy was based on what the Tigers saw from Champion during district play.
The strategy paid off as Dripping Springs leapt out to a 1-0 lead via a long-range shot from Carmichael. Roughly ten minutes later, Dripping Springs senior Hailey Hodsden rifled a shot from point-blank range to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead with 16:41 left in the first half.
Able said the Tigers were able to put the pressure on Champion’s offense and had them “on their heels” early in the first half. On the defensive end, Dripping Springs’ outside backs stepped to Champion’s attackers and limited their ability to turn and run on them, Able said.
Helping was Carmichael, who was a facilitator of Dripping Springs’ offense.
“She’s hard to control and she does what she wants,” Able said. “We finally got it into her brain, ‘the way you make a difference is to be confident and take people on.’”
But the Tigers couldn’t maintain their breakneck pace. Champion began to take advantage.
The Chargers started to chip away with a goal at the 12:52 mark of the first half, which cut the Tigers’ lead to 2-1 at halftime.
With fresher legs and an aggressive style of play, Champion continued to press forward and succeeded in tallying an equalizing goal midway through the second half.
Able said the Tigers were unable to match the first half intensity in the second stanza. Champion attackers that Able said are difficult to defend exacerbated those issues.
Carmichael said the Tigers also had to combat a physical Champion team that was competitive for loose balls.
“In the second half, we kind of just took it for granted and we lost our fire .. We lost the ball too much. They fought back harder.” Jessica Carmichael, Tiger sophomore
Eventually, Dripping Springs’ hold finally gave way when Champion scored the go-ahead goal in the final seconds.
Able was proud of her team and the finish, which was the first time Dripping Springs has reached the playoffs in two years.
She hopes the success can usher a return to the success of Lady Tiger teams of the past.
“We’re trying to get back to that point,” Able said. “We’re a young team and we have a lot to build on for this season.”
