Monday December 9, the Acalanes Women’s soccer team welcomed Bishop O’Dowd High School to the Dons’ home pitch. The Dragons were coming off a 3-game win streak and play was fast and furious between these well-matched teams from the start. Our defense came out strong with Edie Berzansky and Tori Hiatt, with Lily Polkinhorn and Dani Green working in the midfield. Livi Foster sent a nice through ball to Nicole Nguyen but unfortunately the Dragons defense worked. More excellent Dons defense by Cassidy Smith, Berzansky, and Hiatt stopped multiple Dragons attacks. Alex Salazar sent a clean pass downfield to Foster who was unfortunately called offsides. Reese Tierney and Polkinhorn battled the Dragons in the midfield while Avery DeMent and Smith kept up the defensive fight. Smith made an amazing throw-in, setting up Salazar for a beautiful shot on goal, unfortunately defended by O’Dowd’s diving goalie.

Foster and Polkinhorn continued the midfield pressure, with Polkinhorn sending a nice through ball to Tierney for another attempt on goal. When the Dragons took off downfield, it was Hiatt who dispossessed O’Dowd to prevent a goal, followed by DeMent deflecting another shot on goal. Keeper Sara Tarnai made a save, followed by another Dragons goal attempt denied by Nicole Nguyen. Excellent midfield play by Taylor Mikalis, Nguyen, and Polkinhorn, more very impressive saves by Tarnai, and more solid defense by Berzansky & Smith continued to shut down the Dragons. Back-to-back saves by Tarnai, followed by a Polkinhorn pass to Nguyen, who took a close shot on goal to close out the first half. 

The second half opened with the Dragons driving downfield with multiple shots on goal, saved twice by keeper Melisa Adatepe, before they landed one in the net to put O’Dowd on the scoreboard. The Dons offense tried to respond with a shot on goal by Salazar, followed by a solid cross by Nguyen, and another goal attempt by Tierney. Smith dispossessed a Dragons attacker driving toward the goal followed by another Adatepe save. Nguyen sent a beautiful pass to Salazar who sent the ball into the corner of the net to tie up the score 1-1. 

Berzansky and Elodie Jensen were ready on defense, setting up Nguyen to make a drive on goal, sadly interrupted by a Dragon. Lucca DeBiasse kept up the attack in the midfield, and made a solid shot on goal thanks to a pass from DeMent. DeMent, Smith, and Hiatt kept up the Dons defense, with steadfast midfield support by DeBiasse and Tierney. O’Dowd almost took the lead on a hard shot where Adatepe made a leaping dive to deflect it into the post, which rebounded back for another hard shot that Adatepe had to save again! Hiatt passed to Green who sent the ball to Salazar for another almost score for the Dons. The Dons then almost took the lead when a strong DeBiasse shot bounced off the crossbar to Salazar who battled with the Dragons goalie to get a shot back off, only to rebound back to Nguyen for a shot that deflected off the post! So close!  More defense by Polkinhorn and drives downfield by DeBiasse and Tierney would bring tonight’s game to a close. It’s another draw for the Dons, tying the game against O’Dowd 1 – 1. 

The Dons travel to Santa Rosa this Wednesday, December 11th to take on Maria Carrillo High School. GO DONS!