Thursday evening, the Dons traveled across town to challenge the Knights on their home pitch. Acalanes started off strong with several goal attempts by Zoya Acuña, beautiful drives down field and crosses by Dani Green, & the usual solid defense by Sof Cerruti & Edie Berzansky. Thanks to a beautiful pass from Zoya, Dani scored the Dons’ first goal of the night. Sophie Gold had several saves, including preventing a goal from a Knights’ free kick. Unfortunately, the Knights were able to penetrate our defense to tie up the game 1:1. Before the end of the half, the Knights landed a corner kick into the right hand goal post, deflecting into the net for the Knights’ second goal.   

The Dons came out strong in the second half, highlighted by tenacious offensive and defensive play by Sisi Houston, Elodie Jensen, Mollie Schofield, & Lily Polkinhorn, more downfield drives by Addie McShane & Dani, & tough defense by Sof, Edie, & Katelyn Weiss. The defensive play of the night, on top of a save by keeper Sara Tarnai, was Sisi’s header that prevented the Knights’ free kick from becoming goal #3! The Dons kept shots on goal coming fast and furious, including a free kick by Sof coming close to the net, & attempts by Livi Foster, Sisi, & Dani. As the final minutes ticked down, Sisi launched a lofty shot right into the crossbar deflecting over the keeper’s head crossing the goal line from our point of view, but unfortunately was not judged a goal by the referees. Sisi shot another close one before the whistle blew, ending the game with the Knights taking the Dons, 2:1.