Thursday night saw the first round of the NCS Championship Open Division with the Lady Dons seeded one after winning the Diablo Athletic League (Foothill). The first round game was a match with eighth seed, College Park HS, who had won the Diablo Athletic League (Valley). College Park proved to be an inexperienced team and the Dons jumped out to a quick start when Alana McCartney intercepted a pass out from the goalkeeper before keeping her cool to open the scoring. Two goals for Claire Rowell followed quickly, the first after a quick break from Jewel Roemer followed by an exquisite pass to Rowell. Not to be left out, Roemer got in on the act with two goals of her own, the second a five meter penalty shot awarded after a foul on Alex Mould. A further goal from Heidi Heffelfinger from an assist by Emma Miller made it 6-0 to the Dons at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter continued to be one way traffic with another five meter penalty shot for Roemer, after another foul on Mould, followed by two more goals for Rowell, another goal for Roemer, and a goal each for Mary Beth and Heidi Heffelfinger to make it 12-0 at the half.

The Dons took the opportunity to show the strength of their squad in the second half and gave valuable experience to their Freshman Amigos. Audrey Cox took over in goal from Ava Donleavy and at the other end the goals continued to flow with two more from Rowell, the first converting a five meter penalty shot from a foul she had earned, and other scores from Sarah Potter, Mary Beth Heffelfinger, Alana McCartney and Maizie O’Hare to make it 18-2 after three quarters. Two more goals in the last quarter from Potter and Sarah Archer left the final score at 20-3 to the Lady Dons. Final statistics showed Rowell scored six goals with others from Roemer (4), Mary Beth Heffelfinger (2), McCartney (2), Heidi Heffelfinger (2), Potter (2), O’Hare and Archer. Ava Donleavy made two saves and Audrey Cox eight saves.

Next game will be on Wednesday in the semi-final against San Ramon Valley.