This past Saturday, the Dons traveled to Orinda to take on the Matadors for a second time, this time in a non-league game. Fortunately, the sky was clear, but despite starting earlier it was even chillier than our rainy game last week at Campo.
Both teams started the game working hard in the midfield. Sisi Houston on wing moved the ball to striker Alex Salazar who passed to attacking mid Lucca DeBiasse for a long shot wide left of the net. Tori Hiatt, Avery DeMent, Edie Berzansky, and Tatum Keely put up the usual strong defense. Then, Lily Polkinhorn worked the midfield to win the ball from the Mats. Houston sent a long cross to Nicole Nguyen on the opposite line for a near attack, but play was disrupted by Mira.
Another solid shot came by way of Salazar, but it was saved by the goalie. Back to back attacks by the Mats followed, the first stopped by keeper Melisa Adatepe, then by Hiatt, resulting in a corner for the Mats that was fortunately sent over the crossbar by a Mira header. Nguyen and Salazar brought the ball up for another Salazar shot that was deflected for a Dons’ corner kick. The ball bounced out to DeBiasse for another shot deflected for another corner. Nguyen then sent the corner kick to DeBiasse for a one touch left-footed shot into the corner for Dons goal #1!
The Mats responded with one shot on goal saved by a diving Adatepe, a follow-up shot was cleared by Keely. Unfortunately, it was retrieved by the Mats’ left wing for a shot and goal that tied the game at 1. After kick off, Reese Tierney worked the midfield to take the ball back. The Mats made another run up the line but Houston was able to steal and clear the ball. Hiatt cleared another Mira cross before the Mats took another shot well over the goal. Dani Green intercepted a Mats’ pass, but unfortunately the defense cut off her pass to Salazar. Another Mats’ corner resulted in a close shot just over the crossbar. Berzansky took the next Dons’ free kick to get it to Salazar, who passed it on to Hiatt for a cross to DeBiasse, but play was stopped by the Mira defense again. Nguyen took a long shot that was scooped up by the Mats’ keeper. Mira won another free kick on a questionable foul call, which resulted in a shot from the left wing for the Mats’ goal #2 of the night.
After kick off Mira managed to come right back and cross to the middle for an open shot and goal #3! The next shot on goal was easily saved by Adatepe. Nguyen took a long run, passing to Salazar who was disrupted by a defender. Another Mats’ run ended in a Dons’ goal kick and the next cross by the Mats was cut off by Adatepe. Houston chased down another Mats’ run, forcing a pass easily intercepted and cleared by Berzansky. Nguyen and Salazar worked the ball to Polkinhorn in the midfield, who sent a cross that was scooped up by the goalie. DeBiasse took the next Dons’ free kick for a shot on goal saved by the Mira keeper. Another Mats’ attack was cut off and cleared by Tierney, then Hiatt intercepted a Mira pass, bringing the ball up for a Dons’ attack. Miramonte got another shot off that was easily caught by Adatepe. DeMent kept up the midfield pressure, forcing an errant pass by the Mats ending in a Dons’ throw-in. More solid defense by Houston and DeMent, but the Mats still managed another couple of shots, the first saved by a diving Adatepe and the rebound shot cleared by Keely again. The Mats countered for one last shot and goal #4 right as the halftime whistle blew.
Taylor Mikalis started the second half with solid midfield work to win the ball. We saw more tenacious defense from Hiatt and Keely then broke up more Mats’ attacks. Houston followed, stealing the ball from the winger and passing it out to Mikalis. The Mats took the ball back, sending in a solid cross, but it was retrieved by a ready Adatepe. DeMent and DeBiasse combined forces to steal the ball for a pass out to Nguyen. Less than 10 minutes in, the Mats somehow got another shot off for goal #4.
The Dons kept their heads up and kept working, with DeBiasse taking a long shot wide left. Nguyen took another corner, headed first by Tierney, then by Taylor, sending it back out to Tierney for a long shot picked up by the Mats’ keeper. Tierney and DeMent stopped another attack, then DeBiasse ran in to clear the ball. Houston’s steadfast defense moved the ball up to the front line but it was cleared back out by the Mira D. A long shot by DeBiasse was saved by the goalie. The Mats took another free kick into the box but it was picked up by keeper Sara Tarnai. Hiatt fought off the Mats to get the ball out of the backfield, then Tierney kept up the pressure to win it back at the midfield. Houston cut off a Mats’ pass to get the ball to Leila Hamidi for some nice midfield work, ending in a Mats’ goal kick. Houston stole another ball from Mira, getting it to Hiatt, passing again to Hamidi for a midfield meg, but the Mats took it back.
Mikalis and DeBiasse kept up the fight, trying to get some Dons momentum. The Mats’ counter attack was then broken up by a hustling DeMent. More midfield action from Polkinhorn sent the ball to Mikalis, who passed to an open DeBiasse and on to Salazar for a shot wide left. More great D from Keely, followed by Tierney winning the ball again at midfield, getting it to DeBiasse for a run up the line for a cross that was unfortunately cut off by the keeper. Sofia Cerruti hustled to cut off a pass, deflecting the ball to Houston for a very long shot on goal saved by the keeper. Another Dons corner by Nguyen for a clean header shot by Mikalis JUST over the crossbar. Cerruti cleared out a Mats’ pass to their front line, then Mikalis passed to DeBiasse for a quick turn and long shot, stopped by the Mira goalie. Salazar passed to DeBiasse for another shot thwarted by the keeper. DeBiasse took another free kick, which deflected out to Houston, who passed to Hiatt for a shot that the keeper reflected back out to Salazar for shot and goal #2 for the Dons! The Dons finished strong, but it would be a 5 – 2 victory for the Mats.
The Varsity Women travel to College Park this coming Tuesday, 2/11, at 7pm to face the Falcons! GO DONS!