AV Girls LAX - Varsity

Spring break continued to bring beautiful warm weather Tuesday night. The Menlo School Bears arrived hoping to pull off another upset against the Amador Dons. Last years exciting match up saw the Bears overtake the Dons in the closing minutes of the match to win by 1 goal. On the other hand Amador was hoping to extend their win streak.

The match opened with a common scene of Sophia Shiblaq earning the draw win, then handing off to Bella Mayo for a quick strike. Menlo’s goalie would buckle down and save the next threat by Amador. The Dons would mirror the save on the other end. Defense would rotate the ball forward through Kiki Sweeney and Kayley Young, eventually Bella Mayo would get to the line for her second goal. Menlo dug in their heels and would earn their first goal on the penalty line. Shiblaq ran to attack from the draw to earn a penalty line goal. The Don’s defense seemed to miscommunicate and break down as Menlo was able to easily run down the center, to goal, without a challenge, tightening the match at 3-2. Bella Mayo took the draw down the center immediately sucking in four Bear defenders. Despite maneuvering away she was accidentally taken to the ground. She would make the Bears pay by converting her penalty shot. Menlo would forfeit the draw on a moving violation. Bella Mayo would swerve into the top of the 8 meter and pass of to a cutting Kylie Racer. Racer’s shot would fly in for goal. Bella Mayo’s next shot on goal would be saved by the goalie. The Bear goalie would toss up a poorly timed pass. Sam Nimmo made the heads up ground ball pick up and immediately went to goal, extending the Amador lead. Catherine Murphy would do her part by rolling the crease to cushion the Don lead at 7-2. Claire Lemelin and the defense would defend well on an initial threat by the Bears. Unfortunately, the bear midfielder returned to the 8 meter and sunk in a goal. Mady Sweeney would take the ground ball from draw and connect with Mackenzie Riddle. Riddle’s crease roll was unfortunately saved out. The Bears would fumble the transition and see Grace French make the ground ball pickup. French took the ball to goal and earned a shooting space violation. French would fling in a high shot for goal. The Bears continued to fight back by rotating and driving the ball in for shooting space. The Amador defense swarmed in to deny a shot, but would fail to defend the second drive. Bella Mayo would take the draw to goal and sail her shot wide. Amador then took their next offensive opportunity to set a play. Mayo would eventually receive the ball and roll the crease eventually shedding her defenders as she maneuvered back and forth at the 8 meter perimeter. A nice finish at the goal build up the Don lead. The Amador defense was able to narrow the shooting lane to help Claire Lemelin earn another assist. Unfortunately a connection on the transition was missed and Menlo would strike. The Dons appeared to be doing a good job at the draw circle. Once again Amador patiently rotated the ball to open the driving lanes. Bella Mayo would take advantage and shoot in a sky hook like goal. With only seconds left in the half Amador would be unable to take a decent shot but went into the break with an 11-6 lead.

The Menlo Bears would continue to battle intensely and stay in the fight. They started the half by aggressively attacking the Don defense. Despite multiple shooting space penalties being denied or saved the Bears eventually broke through. Menlo would follow with a nicely executed crease roll and cutter connection to narrow the lead to 11-8. Bella Mayo would respond for the Dons by taking the draw and going directly to goal. The shooting space violations started racking up one after the other. The penalty was being called for any player inside the 8 meter even when closely connected with their mark. It was the widest interpretation of the rule many have witnessed. This gave Menlo an advantage as the Dons scrambled to adjust. The Bears would again threaten the Amador lead by converting a shooting space violation. The Dons would come out for the next draw on fire, and battle hard. After rotating the ball through the offense, Bella Mayo would drive in and go low under her defender for the goal. Mady Sweeney would make a clean connection with Mayo deep inside the 8 meter. Mayo’s slick underhand shot would sail wide. Mackenzie Riddle would roll her crease but be denied again, sending Menlo on their way. Menlo would rotate the ball and attempt some drives. Amador’s aggressive double team failed to deny a nice pass inside to the open Bear, and they would score. Once again making the Dons nervous at 13-10. Mady Sweeney would respond by converting a push penalty with a speedy cannon shot. Next, Mackenzie Riddle would roll through the crease and immediately connect a high pass to Catherine Murphy for a catch and shoot, in front of the net. Menlo would take a saved shot and run the field. The midfielder would light her afterburners in a nice display of speed to get by defenders, for a Menlo goal. Amador defense would buckle down and hold back the Bears. Claire Lemelin would rack another save. Then an unfortunate across the body penalty was converted by Menlo for another goal. Menlo School continued to battle and show grit. The Don offense looked frustrated as their shot was saved out again. But the Don attackers applied heavy pressure on the transition with the rest of their teammates. Sophia Shiblaq was able to steal a pass, then connect it to Kalena Johnson. Johnson would snap the ball over to Mady Sweeney, who then made the closing shot. Sweeney would earn back to back goals to give Amador some space in the closing minutes. The Bears would ratchet up their aggressiveness on offense and set a blind pick against Bella Mayo. The referees were calling a tight game and awarded Mayo possession for the illegal screen. Katherine Murphy would receive the pass and send a connection to Mackenzie Riddle in the low post. Riddle would release inside over the goalie’s shoulder to close scoring for the Dons. Amador was able to outlast Menlo school in a fantastic shoot out.