The stands were packed as the Acalanes Dons got ready to play the Campolindo Cougars for the first time in 2025. The last time the Dons beat the Cougars was in 2022 in the first round of North Coast Sectionals and these Dons were ready to regain the thrown!
The first quarter started off with the Courgars winning the sprint but the Acalanes defense was strong and they couldn’t convert. The Dons regained possession and sophomore Malin Stone sent one in the twine to give the Dons a 1-0 lead. Junior Adelyn Horciza started the night off strong with an epic block to keep the Cougs off the beautiful new scoreboard. Campo was able to sneak one in on the next possession, but sophomore Lily Briones got a great pass from senior Olivia Whipple and the quarter ended with Acalanes leading 2-1.
Freshman Anika Rehn flew down the pool and won the sprint to start the second quarter. When the ball made it down to the goal, junior Finley Graff earned an exclusion giving the Dons a powerplay. Finley sent a solid shot in from the outside to give the Dons a 2-goal lead. Adelyn was blocking everything Campo had with block after block. Anika had a great steal but the Dons weren’t able to capitalize. Campo was able to sneak one more into the goal ending the quarter with the Dons leading 3-2.
Quarter three started with another sprint win by Anika Rehn. Senior Ella Del Rosario snagged the ball and headed up the pool for a 1v1 against the goalie. Ella pump-faked and sent one to the back of the cage. Campo came back, but Adelyn was on FIRE and locked every single attempt. On the next play, senior Sara Williams sent the ball over to Ella who assessed the situation and sent an lob right over the goalie for goal #2. Adelyn continued to block every shot sent her way and on the next play, Ella earned a 5-meter penalty and scored goal #3. Campo took possession, but not for long because Finley Graff snagged the ball, sent it up to Sara Williams who passed it into Ella who got right to work with goal #4 to end the quarter with Acalanes leading 7-2
Anika continued her insanely fast sprints to gain possession once again, and this time Lily Briones got the ball and scored her second goal of the game! Campo wasn’t giving up that easily and after some great attempts by the Acalanes team, Campo came back with back to back goals bringing the lead within 3. Ella didn’t like that one bit, so she sent a gorgeous sweepshot into the cage right past the goalie’s head. The Acalanes defense continued to stand tall and between the field blocks and Adelyn’s 12 goalie blocks, Campo could not find the net. The game ended and the Acalanes Dons had done it, they beat Campolindo after a three-year drought and were names Diablo Athletic League Champions!
What’s Up Next for the Dons?
Tomorrow, the reigning DAL champions will take on the Miramonte Mats at 6pm at home!
Come cheer on your Acalanes Dons!
