On Tuesday January 20 the Lady Dons hit the road to take on the Berkeley Yellowjackets for a non-league match. From the kickoff, the Yellowjackets showed they were going to be an efficient offensive team. Passes were crisp, accurate, and quick-paced positioning was impressive. But, the Acalanes defense was ready and just as impressive. Goalie Maria Statnikova also had her first of six saves right away.
Tori Hiatt and Lily Polkinhorn had a nice sequence of ball movement to get Evelyn Lee Aca’s first shot, but a Berkeley defender managed to block it. Cate McCormick kept up the momentum with a nice pass to Stella Beuchotte for a shot just over the crossbar. Unfortunately, Berkeley had a quick counter-attack that resulted in an open shot for a goal; 0-1. Beuchotte, McCormick, Samantha Murdin, and Reese Tierney managed to get some offensive momentum going, but there always seemed to be a Yellowjacket in the right place at the wrong time for the Dons. Berkeley found net again on a long accurate shot into the corner; 0-2. Before halftime, Grace Eppinger, Tatum Keely, and Averly Ammerman threatened the Berkeley goal, but couldn’t find net.
The second half showed more of Berkeley’s impressive positioning as the ball seemed to often find the foot of a Yellowjacket. Edie Berzansky, Claire Hawkins, Hiatt, Keely, and Tierney hussled to break up a number of Berkeley challenges. Polkinhorn, Ammerman, and Casey Lerch got a bit of rhythm going for the Dons offense, which resulted in a close chance for the Dons – Berzansky took a nice free kick that resulted in a Beuchotte header shot that the goalie barely deflected wide to save a goal. The match progressed with a lot of back-and-forth play where the Dons managed to get off a total of 11 shots on the night. The Dons’ sole goal came off of a Keely free kick into the box that bounced out to Tierney who passed it back in to Eppinger who quickly turned and made an accurate shot into the net; 1-2. Unfortunately, the whistle blew shortly after and the Dons found themselves on the short end.
On Thursday January 22 the Lady Dons hit the road again to take on the Miramonte Matadors for a league match. The Lady Dons were expecting a competitive match as many of the players from both teams are familiar with each other and are former or current Club teammates. Contrary to the Berkeley match, Acalanes dominated possession and managed to keep the ball in the midfield or on the Dons’ offensive half. However, the Miramonte defense was strong and broke up many challenges that the Dons put together.
It quickly became evident that while Acalanes could dominate possession, Miramonte had offensive efficiency in very quick counter-attacks that challenged our defense of Hiatt, Keely, Hawkins, Berzansky, and Avery DeMent. The first Miramonte goal came off a tough defended corner kick that unfortunately resulted in a hand ball in the box for a penalty shot; 0-1. The Lady Dons countered with a number of runs and shots, the closest by Beuchotte that bounced off the post. But, despite all the Acalanes offense, the Matadors managed two more rapid counter-attacks for two more goals; 0-3.
The second half got a bit tougher as Miramonte seemed to change their positioning a bit to show what seemed like 2/3 of the team on defense. From a pure numbers standpoint, it was tougher for the Dons to gain any offensive momentum. Thus, most of the play seemed to take place in the middle of the field. Despite this, the Dons did manage to rattle off nine shots on the night – Buechotte for three, Keely for two, and Tierney, Ammerman, Danica Green and Caroline Tumilty each for one. Unfortunately, the second half would be scoreless for both teams and Acalanes was handed their second league loss on the season.
COME OUT THURSDAY JANUARY 29 AS THE LADY DONS TAKE ON LAS LOMAS AT HOME – ALWAYS A COMPETITIVE AND FUN MATCH TO WATCH!