If a college lacrosse match ends in a tie, there is an overtime period to determine a winner.  As the Dons rallied at the end of this match, it had the feeling that if this JV team was allowed an overtime period, they would have victoriously found the net.  However, Acalanes and Clayton Valley had to settle for a tie in an exciting back-and-forth match.

This match started out with our faceoff specialist, Luke Dafferner back at the center of the field for the faceoff.  Luke Spinelli was in goal once again with his defense held down by Owen Hulst, Emerson Boudreau, and Miguel Carmena.  Attackers Logan Houston, Jackson Tseng, and Andrew Iams surrounded the Clayton Valley goal, while midfielders Ryan Yun and Harrison Mrachek waited to charge in to aid Dafferner.

The Ugly Eagles came out strong and had two rapid fire shots that Spinelli saved with ease.  The Dons tried to counter, but CV organized an attack for a shot that Spinelli caught.  As the Dons tried to organize an attack, Mason Lanphere and Anthony Quinn subbed in and immediately forced a turnover that led to a Lanphere shot that was blocked by a CV defender.  After Boudreau forced a turnover, Dafferner found Iams for a shot that bounced off the CV goalie’s helmet.  Tseng recovered and had a shot of his own that bounced off the post.  The Dons continued the attack and after a sub, Curtis Sanders passed to Dafferner who found Iams again for a shot that found net, 1-0 Dons.  The Acalanes defense held strong shutting down any lanes that CV tried to find and the Dons attack managed to fire off another couple shots that went wide.

The Dons came out strong on the defensive end in the second quarter as Carmena, Quinn, and Lanphere each forced turnovers.  However, one Dons turnover and the Ugly Eagles took advantage and tied the game, 1-1.  As CV was mounting another attack, Eli Romick subbed in to get some fresh legs in on defense and Iams forced yet another turnover.  Spinelli continued to save any shots that came his way.  As the Dons attempted an attack, it appeared that Lanphere had scored but the referee waived it off as a timeout was called prior.  The Dons came out of the timeout for a Tseng pass to CJ (#18) for a Dons goal, 2-1.  Unfortunately, CV countered immediately with two unanswered goals to end the half, 2-3.

The Dons started the second half continuing to force turnovers, ultimately leading to a long pass from Lanphere to Tseng next to the goal to tie up the game, 3-3.  Lanphere and Quinn found openings for shots that just went wide.  CV managed shots that Spinelli continued to save, however in a small lapse, a CV attacker managed to get open behind our defenders for a pass that he was able to convert for a goal, 3-4.  The quarter continued to see a lot of even play from the two teams – forced turnovers, shots just wide, physical play with the occasional penalty… all-in-all an exciting match to watch.  To end the quarter, Tseng found a charging Sanders who shot and found net, 4-4.

The fourth quarter continued with very even play, but Yun managed to force an immediate turnover.  CV managed to recover, but Boudreau forced yet another turnover.  As the Dons found themselves down one player due to penalty, the defense held strong and Spinelli caught the CV shot.  As Quinn then took a hard hit for an unnecessary roughness penalty, the Dons unfortunately weren’t able to capitalize on being one up.  However, shortly after the attackers managed a play that ended in Iams finding the net, 5-4.  Unfortunately, the Dons had turnovers of their own that led to a rapid CV attack that found net, 5-5.  The Ugly Eagles managed to find another lane and ran up for another score, 5-6.  After the Dons found a way to get Lanphere open for a shot just wide, the pass back in led to Quinn charging for a goal to tie it up, 6-6.  As I said in the beginning, the Dons gained a lot of momentum to end the game…  Houston knocked the ball loose from a charging CV player, but CV recovered and rattled off two shots that Spinelli saved.  Romick and Hulst disrupted two more CV shots while Dafferner forced two drops for turnovers.  After one last CV shot that Spinelli caught, it was the Dons’ turn.  Lanphere found Houston who took a hard shot that just went high.  Houston returned the favor and found an open Lanphere for a shot that went just wide.  The in bound pass went to a cutting Dafferner who’s shot just went high.  Unfortunately, time ran out  and this exciting match ended in a 6-6 tie.

The Dons will enjoy a long rest for Spring Break, but come back out to see these JV Boys take on Alhambra on Thursday April 11!