By Gareth Kwok, Sports Editor
// A dominant 17-4 regular season with an even more impressive 13-1 league season earned the Dons men’s lacrosse team a #2 seed in the North Coast Section (NCS) Division II playoffs and a first-round bye.
Awaiting the Dons in the quarterfinals would be University High School. The Red Devils defeated the Dons last year in the quarterfinals 6-5, ending the Dons 2016 playoff run. However, University only earned a #10 seed in this year’s 2017 playoffs because of a 7-13 overall record and a 5-1 league record. Nevertheless, Acalanes would get revenge on University in 2017, defeating the Red Devils 10-3, earning a spot in the semifinals.
The Dons got off to a fast start, scoring four goals in the 1st quarter. Junior attacker Collin Jeffries and senior midfielder Michael Bone each scored a pair of goals in the first quarter to begin their scoring sprees. Jeffries scored his second goal from a long way out, showing off his long-distance shooting accuracy.
In the second quarter, junior varsity call-up Renn Strandberg got into the scoring column as well as receiving a nice reception from his varsity teammates with a goal 8:44 left in the first half. Bone would rifle in another goal with 4:11 to go to give Acalanes a 6-1 lead entering halftime.
The third quarter proved to be a little more slow going but Bone and Jeffries continued their already strong performances with a goal each. At this point in the fourth quarter, with Acalanes up by a comfortable lead, bench players started to get some playing time, rotating in and out frequently. Freshman Avery Howell and Jeffries scored a goal each in the final quarter to fully put this game to bed with the Dons winning 10-3.
Jeffries and Bone led the team with four goals each while Strandberg and Howell both had a goal each. Senior goalie Nate Welcomer was excellent in front of the net, deflecting and saving the majority of shots taken by University.
Acalanes takes on #3 seeded Marin Academy at home on Wednesday, May 17th in the NCS semifinals. The winner will move on to the NCS championship game which will likely be on Saturday, May 20. The championship will be between the winners of Acalanes/Marin Academy and #1 Campolindo vs #4 Piedmont.