Miramonte established control early, taking a 4–0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Dons worked to disrupt the Mats’ perimeter passing, contest shots, and regain possession. Acalanes earned an exclusion and continued working to slow Miramonte’s attack.
The second quarter brought more defensive battles. The Dons worked the ball around the perimeter and looked for openings, but several shots missed the mark or were turned away. Acalanes continued to contest shots and fight for rebounds, while Miramonte capitalized on counterattack opportunities to take an 8–0 lead into halftime.
The Dons kept pushing after the break, creating opportunities and continuing to battle for possession. Acalanes earned a five-meter penalty, while the defense worked to contest Miramonte’s drives and limit its shooting opportunities. The Dons also made a strong defensive stand against a five-meter attempt, but the Mats continued to find the back of the net, extending their lead to 11–0 by the end of the third quarter.
Acalanes found its breakthrough in the fourth quarter with a well-placed backhand shot for its first goal of the game. The Dons continued to work together on defense, contesting possessions and forcing Miramonte to keep working for its chances. Acalanes kept looking for opportunities on offense through the final minutes, but Miramonte closed out the game with a 13–1 win.
While the final score favored the Mats, the Dons continued to compete, defend, and search for ways to generate offense throughout the game. Each matchup provides another opportunity to learn, build chemistry, and bring that experience into the next game.
The Dons will take the lessons from this matchup back to the pool as they keep working, improving, and moving forward together.