Torrential rains, 35 MPH winds, 45 degree weather.  That is what Mother Nature provided to the Dons as they played Granada High School in Livermore.  Did that stop the Lady Dons…NO WAY.  I know I mention ground and loose balls as an important statistic and the reason it is so important is because it results in a possession for the team that picks up the ground ball and advances and controls it.  Without possession you cannot score and if you don’t score you cannot win.  Now on to the games: 

ACALANES 17 AND GRANADA 0 

The Dons routed Granada by a score of 17 to 0 and it was not nearly that close.  The Dons led 11 to 0 at halftime and never looked back (that was kind of because they could not see in the rain and wind….).  These tough and scrappy players did what baseball players cannot do, they gutted out the horrific conditions to take care of business.   

Every player on the roster contributed to this win.  Some highlights include Kate Beaver with 3 goals and 8 ground balls, Christina Hageboeck with 2 goals, 2 assists and 6 ground balls, Edie Berzanski with two goals and three ground balls,  Addie McShane and Grace Eppinger who each had with 2 goals 3 draw controls and 3 loose balls, Maya Stafford with 4 goals 3 draw controls and one loose ball.  Other highlights on offense included Samantha Smith with a goal and two ground balls, Cate Mercia with two assists, Lucy Thomas with an assist and an loose ball.  Other offense contributors included Ella Culbertson, Svea Staino, Stella Degroot, Yali Avrahami,  Eloise Greeson, Kinneri Vivek, Stella Pacheco, Willa Wilcott and Taryn Stevenson. 

The Defense was led by Goalies Sara Hession and Addison Mandel who stopped every shot.  However, more amazingly was the Don’s defense that only allowed 3 shots the entire game!  Led by the play of Maddy Obertello, Reiny Fish, Julia Lyons, Reese Westphal, Katelynn Weiss, Ruby Bogan, Molly Jones and others completely shut down Granada.  Once again these Running Dons destroyed another opponent! 

ACALANES 12 AND PIEDMONT 4 

Finally the JV got a game in under mostly clear skies.  These amazing ladies went down to Piedmont (a place where the Dons have always had tough games) and beat them from start to finish.  The Piedmont team was incredibly physical and aggressive and hustled almost as much as our Lady Dons.  At one point it seemed as if a wrestling match might break out it was so physical.  The referees also were not on the top of their game but again the Dons battled through it.  For example one of our incredible defenders Emme Martin was playing great defense and was pushed into her own teammate and was given a yellow card.  It did not really matter at that point as the score was already 11 to 2 Dons at the time. 

As this team always does they outhustled their opponent.  The Dons started out turning the ball over in the first period but because of their hustle and grit they still led 5 to 2.  After a timeout where an incredibly mellow coach (Kidding) told them what they needed to change….the Lady Dons fired up and controlled the game all the way until the end.  The spirit and physicality of this team against an incredibly aggressive and physical team was incredibly fun to watch.  

Evey player on the Dons team got into this game with many of the new players including Molly Jones (picked up a loose ball), Ruby Bogan (controlled two loose balls and played defense like a glove!), Kinneri Vivek, Stella Degroot, Stella Pacheco (she had two great shots), Yali Avrahami (she had an assist), Tarryn Stevenson and Willa Wolcott. 

It was great to see Sadie Logan back and in fine form on Defense.  The Defense overall played an incredible game against a good offensive team of Piedmont who had several very skilled players.  They were shut down and only scored one goal that was not a penalty shot.  Once again our top Defenders, Addie McShane and Edie Berzansky (both middies also and both with fantastic offensive stats including goals and ground balls), Maddie Obertello, Julia Lyons, Emme Martin, Reese Westphal, and Katelyn Weiss outplayed and outhustled their opponents. 

On the offensive side of the ball there was a list of the usual studs including Grace Eppinger who only scored one goal but also had two assists and seven ground balls,  Kate Beaver with four goals and two loose balls controlled, Kate Uffelman with two goals and two beautiful assists to go along with four ground balls controlled, Maya Stafford with tow goals and an assist along with draw controls, the always reliable Christina Hageboeck with two goals on two shots and several possession saves, Samantha Swift with an assist and a ground ball, Ella Culbertson with several ground balls and great passes and the rookie highlight reel Cate Mercier. 

Despite the score this was a vey hard fought win against a really good opponent.  The Running Lady Dons stepped up their game and once again outran, outhustled, out toughed and out physicaled another tough team.  This team has so much grit and they never quit. They play hard until the final horn!   

Come check on the running JV Lady Lacrosse Dons on Friday night at 5:30 against one of our biggest rivals Northgate .  GOOOOOO DONS!