The Trojans survived a tough battle against the Woodlands on Saturday, earning an impressive 13-11 victory. The Highlanders are one of if not the best team that Anderson has faced this season. They are a big, physical team and gave the Trojans all they could handle in one of the best games of the year. The Highlanders came into the game ranked in the top 5 in Texas and 10-1-0 on the season. It was vital that Anderson brought their A game and they needed every ounce of effort they put in to win.
The Trojans led by 3 at the half, but the Woodlands cut it to a two-goal game by the end of regulation. Senior netminder Emma Bethke saved 4 of 15 shots she faced for a .267 save percentage on the afternoon. The Woodlands goalie Jesse Cole saved 6 of 19 shots she saw and held a .316 save percentage for the game.
Junior Harper Jones scored 5 goals for the sixth time this season and Annie Small added 5 goals and 6 points as well. The pair provided most of the offensive firepower for the Trojans, with help from Veena Patel, Olivia Andrus, and Chloe Page, who each had one goal. Laney Owens had her seventh assist hat trick of the season with a trio of helpers.
Harper Jones has been on a scoring tear this season with 58 goals in 12 games. She’s scored 4+ goals in every single game this season and played an integral part in this victory as well. Jones told me she’s “glad that [she] was able to contribute to the win against the Woodlands, but it was a whole team effort and everyone’s play was important even if not recognized in the stats.”
Speaking of those that don’t show up in the stat sheet with goals and assists, Anderson’s defense was vital to the victory. The Highlanders brought the physicality and the Trojans answered the call in a major way. Anchored by Katie Rich, Grace Henson, Alex Kelly, and Addie Nelms, the Anderson defense held the Woodlands to just 11 goals, over 5 below their season average of 16.25. Senior Rayne Dobson, an Anderson University (SC) commit, was held to just one goal and a pair of points due to Anderson’s defensive dominance. Adrienne Drickamer led the Highlanders in scoring with 3 goals and 4 points.
The biggest key to this victory was Anderson’s ability to play as a team, and that rang true when talking to multiple of the Trojans’ star players. “Us working as a team rather than individual players is the reason we are still undefeated,” Harper Jones said, while Laney Owens added that “it took every single one of [the] players’ effort and energy to continue the momentum” and finish out the victory.
This win was huge for a number of reasons. Being outside of the Northeast, and other strong lacrosse regions, Anderson doesn’t have the chance to play most of the powerhouse girls’ lacrosse programs. Instead, the Trojans severely outmatch almost every team they play in Austin and the surrounding areas. Traveling to Houston to play a road game against one of the best teams in the state improved Anderson’s strength of schedule and will hopefully help them move up in USA Lacrosse Magazine’s rankings.
No matter how good of a team you are, to gain national respect you have to earn it, and you do that by beating good teams. The Highlanders are a very good team and possibly the best competition Anderson will face short of Hockaday this season. The win will impress the lacrosse media and coaches in the region and keeps the momentum rolling for the Trojans ahead of their season finally against St. Michael’s on Thursday.
