Friday December 8th, the Acalanes Varsity Women’s soccer team welcomed the Oakland Tech Bulldogs to our home pitch. The Dons wasted no time, with Leila Hamidi immediately advancing the ball from midfield to Livi Foster, sending a clean cross to Ella Thomason who had a nice shot on goal. More attempts quickly followed with Avery Ives, then Taylor Mikalis, with an assist from Thomason, then Ives with another shot but saved by the Bulldog keeper. Tenacious ball handling by midfielder Reese Tierney led to a foul and a freekick by Tatum Keely, just overshooting to land on top of the net. More solid defense from Hamidi, Tori Hiatt, and Tierney got the ball to Thomason which led to Acalanes’ first corner kick, but still no score! Foster and Thomason attempted more attacks on goal thanks to more steadfast defense & midfield play by Hiatt, Keely, Tierney, & Megan Yee. Lucca DeBiasse attempted a cross to another Don then finished the play herself scoring Acalanes’ first goal of the night! 

In case it wasn’t clear from the first paragraph, the Dons defense made sure Acalanes dominated possession from the start. Keeper Melisa Adatepe did have a rare opportunity for a save midway through the first half. More attempts on goal by DeBiasse, a beautiful drive downfield by Stella Hamilton, a nice set up followed by Yee and Thomason for Nicole Nguyen’s first shot on goal. On defense, keeper Adatepe had another save on a free kick by Oakland Tech. More solid defense by Hamidi, strategic play by Nguyen, and an assist by Thomason, led to Hamilton scoring goal #2! With 2 minutes on the scoreboard, Tierney took yet another shot on goal, but it would be Hamidi who had the final play of the first half with a defensive header.

The second half started with more strong defense by Avery DeMent, sending the ball to the offense, with Mikalis controlling the ball and Thomason taking over for Dons’ goal #3! Foster had another shot on goal, followed by great defense and drive downfield by Keely. Next thing you know the Dons were set up for another corner, with DeBiasse lined up for the kick. Foster broke out from the top of the box, running towards DeBiasse and dummied the ball, allowing Thomason to score goal #4 for Acalanes! The Dons continued to wear down the Dogs with more non-stop offensive play by Tierney, Thomason, and DeBiasse, who ultimately set up Foster with a beautiful cross to score her first goal of the game. The Dons continued to control possession, thanks to excellent defense and midfield play by Zoya Acuna, Keely, and Reiny Fish. Goalie Sara Tarnai did have several occasions for nice saves when the Bulldogs had rare penetration of the Acalanes’ defense. The Dons scored goal #6 when Hiatt sent a beautiful cross to Foster. It would be Nguyen who knocked in the last goal of the night, thanks to an assist by Acuna, ending the game with a 7 – 0 shutout of Oakland Tech.

The Dons will have a busy week with two home games and one away game. The Dons host Deer Valley on Monday and Benicia on Tuesday, both games starting at 7pm. The Dons play away on Thursday at Berean Christian at 3:30pm. Support your Dons at one, two or even all three games this week!