The JV Lady Lax team just completed three more victories with blow outs over Northgate, Berkeley and Campolindo during the past week. None of the games were close and these running lady Dons continue to easily defeat every opponent that plays them. These games were clinics by the Dons of how to play lacrosse. Anyone watching their games saw the mastery, skill and hustle that make these players second to none. The team not only has won every conference game but also every game that they have played this season. A group of players boasting all new starters except our Goalie Sarah Hession continue to roll through their opponents as if they have played together for years. Winning together breeds camaraderie and fun!

ACALANES 16 NORTHGATE 2

The Dons hosted Northgate a week ago in a game that was not supposed to be close. It was not. The Starters only played together for about One and half quarters. Every player played significant minutes with over 30 players taking the field for the Lady Dons.

First year players made significant contributions including Stella Pacheco scoring Four Goals! Cate Mercier and Sela Serbiewski also were first years with a goal. Svea Staino and Stella DeGroot each contributed an assist to those goals scored. Other first years getting on the stat sheet were Katelyn Weiss, Grace Hayes, Willa Wolcott, Molly Jones, Kinneri Vivek, Persephone Quine, Taryn, Stevenson, and Yali Avrahami.

The experienced players joined the fun with Reiney Fish having an assist, Ella Culbertson adding a goal and assist, Grace Eppinger with 2 goals and 2 assists and many draw controls and ground balls, Maya Staffor with 3 goals and 8 draw controls, Defensive Star Julia Lyons scored a goal, Addie Mcshane with two assists and several ground balls, Kate Uffleman had a goal and assist and go 6 ground balls, Christina Hageboeck had another four goals, Kate Beaver had a goal and two assists, and Northgate until the end of the game.

It was another ho hum victory for this incredible team!

ACALANES 14 BERKELEY 0

Berkeley High came to town with a very experienced team. Well they have never had to experience this type of colossal defeat before. Quite frankly the Lady Dons did not play all that well but that is what happens to great teams…they still can win big with days that are not their best. That is exactly what these incredible women did, all of the Dons players contributed to this massive shutout. Goalie Sarah Hession had 7 saves and the defense led by Edie Berzansky, Addie Mcshane, Maddie Obertello, Julia Lyons, Reese Westphal, Zoe Braunstein, Ruby Bogan, Molly Jones, Katelyn Weiss, Taryne Stevenson and Persephone Quine (who had her first goal of the year) pitched a shutout never letting Berkeley get close to scoring.

The offense was led by Christina Hageboeck, Grace Eppinger, Maya Stafford, Taylor Mikalis, Kate Uffleman and Samantha Swift who had multiple goals and assists. Also scoring and assisting were Kate Beaver Reiney Fish, Svea Staino, Cate Mercier and Lucy Thomas.

It was a thorough wuppin from start to finish. This team should be incredibly proud of what they have accomplished this season but the most important game against Campolindo was about to take place and the Lady Dons were truly looking forward to it!

ACALANES 17 CAMPOLINDO 8

The mythical JV DAL Championship all came down to Friday Nights game at Campolindo, Neither team had lost in DAL play. Campo had previously lost to the Dons 8 to 3 and they were going above and beyond to defeat the Dons this time around. Their Coaches had prepared scouting reports for all of the Lady Dons best players that they shared with their team. Campo players watched film of the Dons games. They had no other games last week so they could concentrate on defeating the Dons and sharing the DAL Championship. The Dons Coaches knew that all they had to do was rely on their amazing players and did not have to do any of the above to defeat the Cougars. They knew that if they just continued to practice and work together as they had all season that they would defeat Campo. Not only did they defeat Campo but they sent a message that all the preparation in the world was not going to defeat this Acalanes team. These women play together and they win together. They are just better.

The game did not start out well for the Dons as they were behind 1 to 0 in the first two minutes. This was the FIRST time the JV Dons had been behind all season long! However, there is no quit in this team and they knew they had to turn up the intensity. It started slowly with the Dons scoring three in a row but Campo fought back and at the end of the First Quarter the Score was Acalanes 3 and Campo 2. It seemed as if this game was going down to the end. Campo was doubling the ball and forcing the Dons to get out of their comfort zone. However, the Lady Dons did not believe this at all as they had game planned for this all week and were ready for the double team!

During the quarter break the Dons made a couple of adjustments on offense and boy did they work. From the beginning of the quarter with Maya winning the draw to Kate Uffleman grabbing the ball until the end of the quarter the Dons were fire. The Second Quarter was all Dons with goals by Kate Beaver (her third), Maya Stafford, Samantha Swift and two by Grace Eppinger. Grace’s second goal was the most exciting play of the season with Grace getting a great pass and making a shot for a goal as the horn sounded ending the half. The Dons players celebrated on the field and on the Sideline. The Dons sideline players were incredibly loud and truly helped the starters take a 9 to 2 lead at halftime. The Dons defense led by Eddie Berzanski, Addie McShane, Maddie Obertello, Julia Lyons, Reese Westphal and Emme Martin combined to shut the Cougars out in that pivotal quarter.

The Third Period began just like the game did with Campo winning the draw and scoring immediately. This made the score 9 to 3 and the Cougars had life. Don’t ever think that the Running lady Dons believed that the Cougars had a chance. They did not! With goals from players mentioned above and Kate Uffleman the Dons tamed the Cougars for the rest of the period taking a 16 to 5 lead and never looked back. It was a route. Grace Hayes added a spectacular goal in the Fourth Quarter. Game over Dons Win! Campo thanks for stopping by!

As the Lady Dons left the field they all knew that they had accomplished something truly special. Not only had they soundly defeated their arch rivals. They had taken the challenge and played with skill and grit like no other team these coaches had ever seen.

15 Wins and 0 Losses a perfect record. Wow what a group of young women!

Come out and watch the Dons play Miramonte next Friday to cap off an amazing season.

GOOOOOO DOOONNNNNS!