Wednesday saw the Lady Dons return to action at the Heaston Aquatic Center in a DAL matchup with fierce rivals the Cougars of Campolindo. The Dons had won earlier in the season at Campolindo and were expecting another tough game. Campolindo won the sprint to start the game but their first attack was easily stifled by the Dons and in no time the Dons had taken the lead with a sharply taken goal from Claire Rowell after an assist from Carol Schirmer. So far so good, but the Dons could not build on their lead and the Cougars gradually clawed their way into the game before scoring three times to take the lead. The Lady Dons regrouped and hit back with Rowell drawing a five-meter penalty shot, converted by Heidi Heffelfinger, before Schirmer scored, after an assist by Alana McCartney, to tie the game. With the quarter drawing to a close McCartney fired a shot on the buzzer to give the Dons a 4-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Dons started the second quarter strongly with Claire Rowell scoring from an assist by Alex Mould to give a two-goal cushion. At this point things started to go wrong for the Dons as Heidi Heffelfinger was called for a five-meter penalty and her second kick out. Ava Donleavy produced an inspired block to save the penalty shot and limit the damage. However, Campolindo soon pulled a goal back before Carol Schirmer was also excluded for a second time and Campolindo tied the scores on the resulting powerplay. With two of the starters in foul trouble and needing to spend time on the bench the Lady Dons had their backs against the wall. The Dons dug in and sophomores Sara Archer, Maizie O’Hare and Alexa Carter had to play vital minutes to fill in for the starters. The Dons edged ahead again as Alex Mould drew a five-meter penalty which Claire Rowell converted but Campolindo hit back to tie the scores again. As the end of the half approached a strong shot from Alana McCartney hit the bar and Alex Mould seized on the looping rebound to score. With just seconds left until half time Campolindo tried a Hail Mary shot from inside their own half which somehow found its way into the Dons goal. It was tied at seven all at the half.

Whatever was said at half-time the Lady Dons came out a different team in the second half. The Dons defense was back to its suffocating best, with Alex Mould organizing and Emma Miller working tirelessly, and the attack was firing quickly and smoothly. In no time, Claire Rowell drew a five-meter penalty that was converted by Heidi Heffelfinger before scoring herself to make it 9-7 at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter the Lady Dons continued to turn up the wick and the Cougars had no answer. First Claire Rowell drew a five-meter penalty that she converted herself. Then came the play of the game, Carol Schirmer somehow stole the ball from the Cougars while they were on the attack and passed to Ava Donleavy who launched a long pass down the pool to the speeding Claire Rowell who had time to stop and look around before planting the ball firmly in the back of the net. The Dons had scored four unanswered goals to take a commanding lead. Things didn’t get any better for the Cougars as Heidi Heffelfinger and then Claire Rowell scored further goals, and then to add insult to injury, Ava Donleavy made another great block when Campolindo were awarded a five-meter penalty for a technical infringement by Acalanes. The Lady Dons had blanked Campolindo in the second half and the final score was 13-7 to the Dons. Claire Rowell scored seven goals, with three from Heidi Heffelfinger and one each from Alana McCartney, Carol Schirmer and Alex Mould. Carol Schirmer and Alex Mould each made two assists with one from Alana McCartney. Claire Rowell made three steals with one each from Alana McCartney, Emma Miller, Carol Schirmer and Alex Mould. Carol Schirmer made four field blocks and Alex Mould one. Goalkeeper Ava Donleavy made 14 saves, including two five-meter penalties. Next game is away to Sir Francis Drake High School on Friday.