The amazing Lady Dons did the unimaginable….they completed the season with zero losses! It is believed to be a new record and the first time in the history of Dons JV lacrosse.
Some interesting statistics about this wonderful team. The Dons outscored their opponents 270 goals to 49 goals. That averages out to Acalanes Ladies 16 and their opponents 3. There was only one game where the Running Lady JV Dons did not have a 10 goal lead over the team they were playing and that game was 8 to 1 over Campolindo for most of the game. This Dons team destroyed teams like Campo, Carondelet, San Marin, Monte Visto, Cal High, Piedmont and every team in the DAL.
In order to reach this coveted status of a Perfect Season the Lady Dons have to win one last game on Friday night over their rival Miramonte. The first game against Miramonte was 21 to 1 Dons but for some reason this Miramonte team seemed different and were much better then a few weeks ago. The game started with the Mats scoring first (only the second time the Dons had been behind all season-both by scores of 1 to 0). However, the Aca Girls came roaring back on goals by Christina Hageboeck (5 goals for the game), Grace Eppinger (6 ground balls) and Kate Beaver (4 goals). These were assisted by point middie Maya Stafford (5 Draw Controls), Kate Uffleman and Eddie Berzansky. Yet, at the end of the first period Miramonte was hanging around the Dons only led 3 to 2 and they knew they were in for a tough game.
In the Second Period things did not get much better for the Dons as they led only 5 to 4 with a couple of minutes left in the half. The Mats were playing incredible one on one defense limiting Aca. The Dons were used to being double teamed by other defenses and using their incredible passing skills to find the open player. However, there were no open players so the Dons had to figure out a way to crack this difficult defense. The one main weapon that the Lady Dons had going for them was that not only were they incredible lacrosse players, but they were amazing athletes. So, the Coaches called time out and it was determined that the way to defeat this stifling one on one defense by the Mats, the Dons players needed to go one on one with defense and not worry about finding an open player. Well, it worked. With less than a minute to go Aca got a goal by Christina on a beautiful assist by Cate “the Rookie” Mercier. The Dons then executed their new one on one game plan perfectly with Christina, Kate B and Edie all beating their defender to score. In the matter of one minute the Dons scored 4 goals to take an 8 to 3 lead into halftime. These incredible athletes literally ran right by their Mat defenders. The Dons never looked back after this. However, if they had they clearly would have seen Miramonte Defenders trying to catch up!
The Third Period began just as the Second Period ending with the Dons scoring four straight goals. The first goal of the second half was scored by Sam Swift followed by two goals by Kate B and Christina. The offense and defense was skillfully directed by middies Maya, Kate U., Edie and Addie McShane. They grabbed loose balls and brilliantly moved the ball down field. Score at the end of three quarters Dons 13 and Miramonte 4. Everyone was contributing to this revamped offense including Ella Culbertson, Lucy Thomas, and first year players Grace Hayes, Stella Pacheco, Kinneri Vivek, Stella DeGroot, Svea Staino and Willa Wilcott.
The fourth period began with the Mats scoring however thirty seconds after this score new lacrosse star defender Ruby Bogan took the ball from a Mats player and went the length of the field to score a coast-to-coast unassisted goal. It definitely was one of the highlights of the season! The Dons completed their scoring with first year player Sela Serbiewski taking a perfect shot and icing the game with a goal for the Dons.
The Defense was stifling led by Addie, Edie, Rainey Fish, Zoe Brauntstein (one ground ball), Maddie Obertello (two ground balls), Reese Westphal (two ground balls), Emme Martin (two ground balls), first year player Molly Jones with two fantastic ground balls, Ruby Bogan, Taryn Stevenson and the always aggressive Persephone Quine.
One must mention the phenomenal play of Goalie Sarah Hession who was strong all year long!
The final score was Lady Dons 15 and Mats 6. The 33 Dons that took field the Stepped all over the Mats completed the Perfect Season! As these players left the field they knew they had accomplished something special. Their Coaches Steve Seiler and Scott Stafford were so proud of this hustling talented group of amazing athletes and friends. It was a magical season for this team and one that the players and coaches will remember forever. It is a rarity in sports that any team has a perfect season. Heck in almost 100 years of professional football there has only been one undefeated team.
These young ladies should be incredibly proud of what they accomplished as a team. Yes there were some players that scored the most goals or got the most assists or ground balls but that is clearly not what an undefeated season for a team is all about. It is about the Team, the hard work, the team work and the camaraderie of every single player on the Team. Every player was integral to this undefeated season. This Perfect Season will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all of those connected with the 2023-2024 Acalanes Junior Varsity Girls Lacrosse Team!
GOOOOOOOOO DOOOOOONS!
