LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Acalanes Boys' Lacrosse Holding Down First in DFAL Standings


Adrian Jeffries was key for the Dons, scoring the go-ahead goal in their 7-6 win against Campo. Photos Gint Federas

Acalanes is occupying the DFAL driver's seat as the second half of the boys' lacrosse season rolls along.

The Dons (7-0 in league, 10-5 overall) maintained their grasp on the top spot in the standings by edging Campoindo 7-6 on April 14 and beating Las Lomas 17-7 on April 17.

The fast start to the season has the Dons thinking big. "Our first goal is always to win the DFAL and go undefeated if possible," said head coach Brent Ringwood. "It's worked out in the past."

Against the Cougars, Acalanes fell behind 2-0 in the first quarter, but the team managed to draw level by the half. After the rivals traded goals in the third, the Dons claimed a 7-5 advantage with 10 minutes left in the contest. Senior Adrian Jeffries was in the middle of nearly all of the Dons' attacks.

"Sometimes an individual player steps up and makes an amazing play," said Ringwood after Jeffries scored what proved to be the game-winning goal. "It was big. It was big for us."

Campolindo made things interesting at the end. In the final minutes, junior Austin Mello scored to make it 7-6, but then a last-second shot went just wide of the net.

"All you can ask for is a shot at the end, and that's what we had," said Campolindo head coach Mitchel Frey. "I think that's a game that can go either way. Acalanes, obviously, battled. All due respect to Acalanes. You know, great team, but we're a great team as well. I think you saw that."

The defeat against Acalanes marked the first loss of the league campaign for the Cougars, but Frey likes the way his squad is playing.

"The team feels very good moving forward. This is something we can definitely build on and there's a lot positive attitude around the program."

The Cougars have already circled May 8 on the calendar. That's the day that Campolindo will host Acalanes in the final game of the season.

"We'll get another shot at Acalanes and we're definitely looking forward to it," said Frey.

Miramonte is also feeling confident as the team embarks upon the second half of the season with a 3-3 record in league and a 6-5 mark overall.

"I've been seeing improvements consistently each week," said head coach John Hofinga. "So, I have my hopes high that the second time through the league play that we'll have a couple more wins than the first time through."

As Hofinga explained, the key for the second half is simple: score more goals.

"We're focusing more on our offense than our defense. So, we're working more on really finishing our shots and kind of valuing the ball and not turning it over very much."

While it will be difficult to make a run at the DFAL title, the future is looking bright for the Mats.

"I was thinking this was the first step to longer term success, but that we also have the necessary personnel this year to still win some games and have a good season."