The Dons kicked off their season opener with a 2-0 win over Pinole Valley. The team’s energy and aggression was apparent from the very start as Acalanes scored their first goal less than 15 seconds into the match when a high press forced possession to an isolated PV defender. Ben Pecci streaked in from his left wing position blocking the opponents clearance attempt, muscled the defender off the ball, collected possession and fired a shot past the keeper from a tough angle….1-0 Dons. The Spartans were shell shocked and the Dons continued to make dangerous runs on the outside while the back line of Eitan Romick, Ryan Rho-Baity, Zack Roder and Ethan Wilberts thwarted the PV offense.Meanwhile, the Dons midfield of Jonny Roth. Omri Noiman and Simon Appel controlled the middle of the pitch playing solid defense, distributing the ball and making runs deep into the final third when opportunities were available. To the Spartans credit, they did not fold and seemed to gain a bit of momentum in the final moments of the 1st half purposely trying to draw fouls on the Acalanes side of the field for set piece opportunities, but the Dons D and goalie Bryan Lurie shut them down.

The 2nd half was all Dons dominance with additional scoring chances by Pecci, Colby Ebner and Santi Vignoles.  The Dons finally broke through again with about 8 minutes remaining when Noiman placed a perfect ball up the middle of the field. Roth deftly strode over the ball leaving it for a streaking Pecci who took it to the top of the box placing a nicely weighted ball through the middle where he found Vignoles at the far post who blasted it home for a game clinching 2-0 Acalanes advantage. A big shout out to the Dons backline and congratulations to Bryan Lurie on his first Varsity start in goal…..a clean sheet shutout.