The Lady Dons returned to the pool on Saturday morning for a match up with the Wolves of San Ramon Valley in the first round of the end of season tournament. The Dons have been steadily building their performance over the last weeks and this game showed more evidence of the developing strength in depth of the squad. The Dons started steadily and went ahead when Carol Schirmer provided a crisp pass for Alana McCartney to score. Heidi Heffelfinger then made it two after a precise pass in to set from Alex Mould. At the other end SRV were working hard but the Dons defense was giving little away and Ava Donleavy in goal was playing at the top of her form. Heidi Heffelfinger turned provider with a nicely weighted pass in to Alex Mould before Mould followed up a loose ball to push it over the line for her second. It was 4-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started with Acalanes continuing to dominate but struggling to convert their chances as three times Heidi Heffelfinger went one on one with the Wolves goalie only to be denied by a string of superb saves. Both players, clubmates out of high school season, could see the funny side and Heffelfinger turned to give the crowd a rueful grin knowing that she would be hearing more about it when she returns to club play in the summer. However, Heffelfinger was not to be denied and she scored her second after a smart pass from Alana McCartney. Claire Rowell then stretched the lead racing on to a long pass from Ava Donleavy to make it six. The Wolves clawed one back before Alana McCartney drew a five-meter penalty shot that was converted by Claire Rowell. The half finished with Carol Schirmer chasing down another long pass from Ava Donleavy to make it 8-1 at half time.
The Dons did not let up in the second half as Heidi Heffelfinger produced a couple of slick assists for first Claire Rowell to score her third and then defensive stalwart, Alex Mould, to claim a rare hat trick. SRV pulled one back, scoring from a five-meter penalty, before Heidi Heffelfinger managed to grab her third after chasing down another long pass from Ava Donleavy. The fourth quarter saw Acalanes younger players come to the fore as first Maizie O’Hare scored from a well judged pass in by Sara Archer, then Archer scored one for herself after a pass in by Sarah Potter. The final score was 13-2 to the Dons.
Heidi Heffelfinger, Alex Mould and Claire Rowell all scored three goals with one each from Alana McCartney, Sara Archer, Carol Schirmer and Maizie O’Hare. Heidi Heffelfinger made three assists with one each from Alana McCartney, Sara Archer, Sarah Potter, Carol Schirmer, Alex Mould and Claire Rowell. Claire Rowell made three steals, Carol Schirmer made two and there was one each from Alana McCartney, Heidi Heffelfinger, Alex Mould and Maizie O’Hare. Ava Donleavy made sixteen saves. The next game is the last league game of the season and is away to Miramonte on Wednesday.