By Wayland Clark
For the Austin Sports Journal
DRIPPING SPRINGS — It took a moment of composure from a freshman to keep the Vandegrift’s season alive Tuesday night.
The Lady Vipers (21-3) broke through in the second overtime period, defeating San Antonio Clark 1-0 in a UIL Class 6A Division II area playoff at Tiger Stadium.
Freshman Jacklyn Dashnaw delivered the decisive moment with five minutes remaining, calmly converting a penalty kick to lift Vandegrift into the regional semifinals, where it will face undefeated Harlingen (21-0).
“I was a little nervous, and it’s good to be a little nervous,” Dashnaw said. “But at the end of the day, you just have to believe in yourself and have the confidence to do it. I didn’t want it to end for these seniors. We’ve all worked too hard.”
The match had all the tension of a playoff battle, with both teams trading chances but unable to find the net through regulation.
Defense and goalkeeping dictated the pace, and as the game stretched into overtime, the pressure only intensified.
Clark (23-4-1) pushed aggressively late, particularly in the second overtime period, forcing Vandegrift goalkeeper Kylie Jones into multiple key stops.
Jones, who recorded her 13th shutout of the season, anchored a back line that bent but never broke.
Vandegrift’s breakthrough came when Dashnaw was taken down in the box, setting up the penalty that ultimately decided the match. Without hesitation, the freshman stepped up and delivered.
“She wanted it and knew it could seal the deal, so she just stepped up and it was extraordinary,” Vandegrift head coach Caitlin Sawyer said.
Sawyer credited her team’s resilience and chemistry for pushing through a physically and emotionally taxing match.
“Our girls don’t stop, they’re hungry for every win,” Sawyer said. “They love playing with each other and are best friends. They’ll fight till the last minute just to get a chance to play again with each other, and I think that’s what pushed us to an extra run or an extra tackle or an extra little something just so they could play one more time.”
Now, the Lady Vipers turn their attention to their next challenge, a regional semifinal showdown against a powerhouse from the valley.
Box socre
| 1 | 2 | OT1 | OT2 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vandegrift | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| San Antonio Clark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals: Vandegrift – Jacklyn Dashnaw
