After a grueling finals week before the winter break, the Las Lomas Women’s Varsity traveled across town to the Dons’ home pitch for a much anticipated match up. From the start it was non-stop high level play from the very talented Knights. That said, Acalanes showed up ready to fight, and seemed almost unphased after Las Lomas scored a goal early in the first half. Leila Hamidi and Tatum Keely kept up the midfield pressure, allowing Livi Foster to cross to Ella Thomason, and Taylor Mikalis to set up Lucca DeBiasse for nice shots on goal. The Dons’ defense, led by Tori Hiatt, Demi Woods, Reese Tierney, & Megan Yee, shadowed the Knights’ every move. Keeper Melisa Adatepe was there for multiple saves when Las Lomas did manage to penetrate our back line. At the 40 minute mark, the Knights were up 1 – 0.
The second half opened with more solid defense by the usual suspects, Hiatt, Tierney, Yee, Woods & Hamidi, who also managed to move the ball downfield to our offense, transitioning into attacks on goal. Nicole Nguyen made a beautiful shot on goal thanks to a clean cross by Debiasse. Our midfield once again pressed the Knights, highlighted by Keely, Nguyen, Debiasse, & Thomason. Defense remained our number one priority with seemingly every Don taking a turn against a Knight, including wing Stella Hamilton with a header and 2 interceptions, Keely clearing a ball headed for the net, and more of the same great D from Hamidi & Hiatt.
It would be an incredible drive towards the goal by Nguyen, who faked out multiple Las Lomas defenders, and a pass to fullback Keely who overlapped and scored the Dons’ first goal. More offensive highlights included strategic midfield play by Tierney and Nguyen, with another shot on goal by Yee. Nguyen had yet another downfield drive and her own shot on goal. Despite our reliable defense by Hamidi, a header from Tierney, and another save by Adatepe, Las Lomas managed to sneak another one into the net to bring the score to 2 – 1.
The Dons lost no time, thanks to Nguyen once again deftly maneuvering the ball past the Knights and setting herself up for another shot. Nguyen’s attempt on goal ricocheted off of a defender, but Hamilton was there to follow the shot and literally face the ball into the net, tying it up at 2 – 2.
The last minutes were edge-of-seat on both sides of the field. Hiatt landed a beautiful “all ball no call” slide tackle preventing what could have been a beautiful Knights’ shot on goal. More saves by Adatepe, including a Knights’ corner kick, followed by a yellow card delivered to a Las Lomas midfielder made for an exciting, yet nerve-racking, end to the game.
In the end, the Dons’ incredible teamwork held the Knights to a tie, 2 – 2.
The Dons look forward to returning to play in the New Year with two away games, one in Windsor on January 6 and the other at Clayton Valley on January 9. The next chance to see the Dons play at home is Thursday, January 9 vs Concord HS at 7pm. Go Dons!