It was a tale of two halves as the Dons took on the Wildcats in the NCS quarterfinals on Thursday at San Rafael High School. In the first half, the Dons kept the Wildcats close, going into halftime with a score of 2-5, giving themselves a chance to mount a comeback in the second half. Dons goalie Addie Martin stopped shot after shot in the first half, keeping her team in the game. The Dons’ defense held Marin Academy really well in the first half too. The second half was rough for the Dons; the Wildcats pounced on every ball and took advantage of every opportunity given to them. The final score was 3-13 in favor of Marin Academy.

Scoring for the Dons were Tea Smith with two goals and Maya Smith with one. Megan Churchill had two assists and Wang added one as well. The draw circle was tricky for the Dons, but Ella Thomason managed a couple of draw controls and Grace Imrie had one too. Controlling loose balls were Thomason, Avery Ives and Haley Rurka. The most impressive stat line of the game was goalie Addie Martin’s 10 amazing saves.

Even in defeat, the Dons showed spirit and heart, just as they did all season long. The support and smiles that the girls gave each other after the game showed just a portion of the camaraderie that they built over the course of the season. The Dons’ coaching staff, Bill Fraser, Mark Rurka, and Giles Imrie, earned praise and gratitude from players and their families alike. After the game, the Dons celebrated their spectacular seniors, including Haley Rurka who played her final game with her dad, Coach Mark Rurka. This season will certainly go down as a great one in the hearts and memories of the Dons.