Dripping Springs soccer cruises, but now must continue without star player Ellie Hodsden
CIBOLO — Ellie Hodsden put on a clinic Monday night as the Dripping Springs sophomore scored a hat trick and added an assist, leading the Tigers to an 8-1 area round girls playoff win over Cibolo Steele.
But Hodsden's goals will be the last ones in a Tigers uniform for at least a couple of weeks; she leaves for France this week to join the U.S. Under-16 women's youth national team.
“Our goal all season is to play as a team. Our center forward’s role is to score, so whoever fills into that role, we will have to step up,” said head coach Bailee Perrine. “I think we have enough girls on the roster that can score, and having Caroline Dill in goal and our solid backline gives us confidence to carry on into next games.”
More: Dripping Springs, Georgetown lead area girls teams in playoff pushes
On the pitch, the Tigers were a well-oiled, well-balanced side with solo goals from Chloe Fredenburg, Haley Bodman, Riley Sisson, Alex Knutson and Ella Ruff. Hodsden, Ruff, Knutson, and Reese Nance had an assist each while midfielder Grace Payne led the team with three.
Dripping Springs (19-3-2) put on a soccer clinic with defense, ball control, passing and shot selection. The Tigers will next face the winner of the Round Rock-San Antonio Reagan match in the third round.
Dripping Springs has outscored teams 109-11 this season; Dill, the goalkeeper, has 13 shutouts.
In other action, Burnet allowed a first-half goal and trailed Canyon Lake 1-0 at the break, but the Bulldogs rallied with three second-half goals by Brook Oliva plus solo scores by Taylor Petty and Lainey Rye to win 6-1. Canyon Lake had an own goal. Oliva added an assist while Kaycie Banton and Amelia Griffin notched two assists each for the Bulldogs.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Dripping Springs girls soccer will continue without star Elie Hodsden
