The Acalanes Dons delivered a great performance this week, dismantling Northgate in a 15-5 victory that showcased both offensive depth and a disciplined D. 

The tone was set early by Jan Korzeniowski, who ignited the scoring before Caleb Mason took over the opening minutes with a quick pair of goals. Northgate managed to claw one back to briefly tighten the gap, but Jackson Tseng silenced any hopes of a comeback with a late strike, ending the first quarter with the Dons holding a steady 4-1 lead.

If the first quarter belonged to the attackers, the second was a testament to the Dons’ defensive grit. Led by the trio of Cooper Banwart, Cade Korpita, and Grady Branagh, Acalanes executed a total lockdown, keeping Northgate off the scoreboard for the entire period. This defensive stability allowed the offense to flourish; Tseng and Grant Condy each found the back of the net, while Mason completed a hat trick. Condy’s second goal of the night sent the Dons into halftime with a massive lead and all the momentum.

The third quarter saw a brief exchange of goals as Northgate attempted to find a rhythm, but the Dons responded to every challenge with interest. Mason continued his stellar night, followed by successful strikes from Korzeniowski, Tseng, and Logan Houston. By the time the fourth quarter began, the lead had ballooned to 12-3, essentially sealing the “W.”

In the closing quarter, Korzeniowski took center stage once more, netting two additional goals to put an exclamation point on his performance, while Grady Evans added one more for good measure. Though Northgate managed two late scores, the Dons’ second-half defensive rotation of Emerson Boudreau and David Gallacher ensured there would be no late-game heroics for the opposition.

The 15-5 win was underpinned by two critical components: Mason Lanphere’s exceptional work at faceoff and Kyle Sanftner’s brilliance in goal. It was a noce team win that keeps the Dons’ momentum surging forward going into a tough matchup this Friday at Miramonte