 | | | Junior offensive midfielder Courtney Neff (25) scored three goals in the win over the Mats Photo Andy Scheck
| | | | | | This spring, girls' lacrosse looks to be an exciting battle. All Lamorinda teams finished in the top three in last year's Diablo Foothill Athletic League.
Acalanes:
Acalanes finished last season as DFAL champs, going a perfect 13-0 in league play and 16-7 overall before falling to Amador Valley in the NCS playoffs. The Dons finished their season ranked 17th in all of California.
Currently, Acalanes is 5-3 and 2-0 in league play with a 9-6 win over Miramonte on March 23, and an 18-9 victory over Campolindo on March 25. In the win over the Matadors, Dons junior offensive midfielder Courtney Neff scored three goals.
"I think that our team is going to win league this year. We did last year, and I believe we have the potential to go far again this year. Our whole team is so excited for the real season to start and if we play our hardest and go 100 percent during each and every game, we will without a doubt be very successful," says Neff.
Acalanes returns four members of last year's all-DFAL first team for their senior year. Acalanes is be an experienced team ready for a competitive season.
Miramonte:
The DFAL runner-up, Miramonte finished last year with a 9-3 league record while going 14-7 overall. The Matadors also represented themselves as a strong squad, finishing at 32nd in California.
Right now, Miramonte is off to a great start at 5-3, and 1-1 in DFAL with a win over Dougherty Valley on March 25 and a loss to Acalanes. Mats sophomore attacker Lauren Dougherty scored five goals in the victory over the host Wildcats.
"I think that we have the talent to do great things this season... Beating Acalanes and Campolindo this year to win DFAL will be tough because all three of the programs are very strong... If we play the way I know we can, I'm positive that we can beat them," explained Dougherty, who was selected to last year's all DFAL second team as a freshman.
The Mats return two seniors, including senior midfielder Alex Seclow, and goalie Dani Albo; they lose midfielder Erin Walsh.
Campolindo:
Campolindo enters this year having finished in third place in last year's final DFAL standings. They look to rebuild after losing first-team all DFAL goalie Rachel Ozer to graduation last June.
The Cougars went 9-4 in league last year and 12-9 overall. Campo is 3-2-1 overall and 1-1 in DFAL play with a league win over Dougherty Valley on March 22 and a loss to rival Acalanes on March 25.
Against Dougherty Valley, Campolindo midfielder and junior captain Brooke Martini scored three goals.
"We are really coming together as a team and each and everyone on the team is improving," said Martini.
Currently, Acalanes and Miramonte are tied for second place in the league, while Campolindo sits at fifth place.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA