On Saturday, the 8-4-1 JV girls soccer team traveled to Orinda to take on Miramonte. They emerged with a 3-0 victory over the Mats for the second time, sealing the season sweep against cross-town rivals Campolindo and Miramonte.
The Dons had the ball on the Mats side of the field for most of the game. On offense, the Dons had many scoring opportunities and were able to convert three of them. They got on the board early when winger Avery Titus (#2) scored on a ball she corralled in front of the goal. Avery was also involved in the second goal as she centered the ball to winger Grace Eppinger (#22) who scored on a nice shot into the corner of the goal. The third goal came courtesy of attacking midfielder Grace Colaco (#7) who is more often seen dodging defenders with ball control and through passes to set up teammates, but was able to score her first goal on the season with a nice shot over the outstretched arms of the goalie. Caroline Tumilty (#8), Evelyn Lee (#9), Tatum Walsh (#13), Julia Munter (#15), Michaela Barbano (#18), Mila Ellis (#20), and Natalie Hamill (#21) also had shots on goal during the game.
The defense pitched yet another shutout. Molly Aldrich (#19), who according to her parents hadn’t played goalie since LMYA in kindergarten, started the game at goalie since none of the usual goalies were available. Fortunately, defenders Helena McGinley (#4), Olivia Kemp (#5), Sierra Goyert (#10), Olivia Bernier (#11), Michaela Barbano (#18) and the rest of the team stepped in to help by keeping the ball out of harms way, and Molly was able to secure the few balls that reached her. Molly eventually yielded to goalie Cate Mercier (#00) when she arrived mid-way through the first half. Cate got challenged a bit more with a few shots on goal, but she was able to preserve the shutout. Olivia Kemp made a couple really great plays. She did her best Draymond Green impression by boxing out a Mats player long enough to secure a goal kick for the Dons, and also had a play where she chased down a Mats player from behind leading to another goal kick.
And now to the shout outs. First, shout out to the team for completing the season sweep against Miramonte and Campolindo. Shout out to Molly Aldrich (#19) for stepping in to play goalie. Shout out to coach for wearing shorts in early February while all the parents were bundled up. Shout out to the Miramonte trainer who drove the golf cart over to give water to our girls at halftime. Shout out to the bench for continuing to cheer on Grace after she scored. Shout out to Julia Munter (#15) for a nice double header sequence. Shout out to Sierra Goyert (#10) and Olivia Bernier (#11) for playing keep away as they passed back and forth to each other. Not sure if this is allowed, but I am also going to give myself a shout out for finding a “hot hands” wrapper left behind and swishing it into the trashcan from distance. Lastly, shout out to mother nature as it felt like spring came early as the weather was perfect and parents could be seen prepping the nearby baseball field for the upcoming season.
Game Photos: https://go.teamsnap.com/8816872/files/list/5297244
Get to Know Coach: Coach Jose’s favorite TV show is Malcolm in the Middle, favorite actor is Leonardo DiCaprio, and favorite band is Taylor Swift (just kidding, it is Australian indie rock band Sticky Fingers).
The girls continue the road trip taking on College Park on Tuesday (2/11) at 5pm