PHOTO BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Senior Jontell Ritz looks at the ball before firing off a shot at Fredericksburg’s goal. Lady Badgers’ head coach Mark Guszak can describe his senior defender in one word: Warrior.

Although Lampasas did not win Friday night as it wrapped up its nondistrict schedule deadlocked with Fredericksburg 1-1, it was not from a lack of effort.

And nobody stood out to Guszak more than Andrea Dibble, who played with a massive contusion on her leg after taking a kick above her shin during the opening minutes of the match.

“She refused to come out of the game,” the coach said. “What a warrior.

“[It was] the size of a softball and she literally could not stand by herself without help, [but] she played like a warrior in intense pain.”

While Dibble might have led the team in heart, it was a freshman who nearly guided the team to victory.

Rebecca Chaney scored the lone goal for Lampasas, but it was not enough.

“We had more opportunities for goals in this game than almost any other this year, but just had trouble finishing,” Guszak said. “I think we have seen improvement as the season has progressed, but we will need to improve even more if we have plans for the playoffs again this year.”

After being eliminated from the postseason last year by Austin McCallum, the Lady Badgers begin their trek for a second consecutive playoff appearance tonight when travel to Leander Rouse for the first match of District 49-4A play. The match is set to begin at 7:45 p.m.

“We have absolutely no idea what Rouse has, but I feel that if we have all of our players present, we can play with anybody and beat many,” Guszak said. “Rouse might be great or they might be average. We [can only] concentrate on playing our game.”

The Lady Badgers play their first home district match Friday night against Killeen.

Although the coach does not know what to expect from his upcoming opponent, he knows that he witnessed something special in the tie with Fredericksburg.

“[Dibble’s effort] was a legendary act, and I am not even exaggerating,” Guszak said. “Soccer games don’t get the crowds and the hype, but those kind of performances are worth attention.”

And to Dibble, they are worth the pain as well.

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The Badgers’ varsity team traveled to Killeen Friday evening and was shut out 7-0 in its final nondistrict match.

Lampasas hosts Leander Rouse tonight at 7:45 p.m. in the District 49-4A opener.