Last Wednesday, the Acalanes JV Boys Water Polo Dons put together a dominant team performance against the Cal High Grizzlies, earning a convincing 17–4 victory.

From the opening whistle, the Dons controlled the pool with aggressive defense, smart passing, and a balanced offensive attack. Rather than relying on one scorer, Acalanes consistently moved the ball and found open teammates, creating opportunities throughout the game.

Spencer Salfen got the scoring started with a five-meter opportunity, sending a skip shot into the net. From there, the goals kept coming! Luke Wellen, Colin Heintz, the Bens (Ben Lin and Ben Paulsen), Brady Pigeon, Finn Butler, Alexander Mura, and Theo Penn all contributed to scoring, with amazing shots.  Several goals came directly from well-executed passes and patient offensive possessions. Finn Butler shot an impressive long-range goal from outside five meters, while Theo Penn provided one of the game’s most memorable finishes, turning his opponent before firing the ball into the net later in the game.

At the other end of the pool, Acalanes goalkeeper Ryan Graff was a force in the cage. He made save after save throughout the game, frustrating the Grizzlies’ offense and helping the Dons quickly turn defensive stops into scoring opportunities. Ryan also served as the team’s traffic controller from the back, directing the defense and keeping his teammates organized.

The Dons’ defense was relentless. Alexander Mura and Finn Butler came up with key blocks, while the entire defensive unit pressured Cal High, intercepted passes, and disrupted the Grizzlies’ attempts to build momentum. Even when Cal High managed to create an opportunity, Acalanes consistently responded with strong defensive play.

The Dons also showed patience and persistence on offense. Not every shot found the net, but missed opportunities didn’t slow them down. Acalanes reset, moved the ball, and went right back to work. That combination of patience and pressure eventually translated into a 17-goal offensive performance.

Credit also goes to the Cal High goalkeeper, who made several difficult saves and kept the Grizzlies in the fight.

By the final whistle, the Acalanes Dons had earned a 17–4 victory, powered by balanced scoring, strong communication, relentless defense, and outstanding goalkeeping from Ryan Graff. 

Seventeen goals, four allowed in, and a whole lot of teamwork—a pretty good day for the Dons.