April 1 , 2007
Del Mar Boys Soccer has great season too!
I would like to take a moment to recognize the Del Mar boys JV soccer team. The boys JV team had a terrific year too with a 11-1-2 record in league play and 12-2-2 record overall. The boys were unbeaten in 14 games in a row and undefeated in all their home games. The boys also accumulated over 60 goals during the season. The team won the "Team of the Year" for discipline and fair play and this was the best a Del Mar Boy's soccer team in the past nine years.
The boys were very supportive of The Lady Dons this year, coming to almost all of our home games, so I would take this time to congratulate them on great season and thank them for their support.
March 8, 2007
Lady Dons Honor Coaches!
Del Mar Girls Soccer will be the only DM sport to be playing in the Mt. Hamilton (A) League in 2008 .
 In a very nice awards ceremony Wednesday night (March 8th) the Lady Dons team captains honor Coaches Padia and Call for a great season. Coaches Padia and Call took over a floundering soccer program and turned it around in one season. Building a league champion and CSS playoff team in the process. Captains Ashlynn Polino, Lauren Idemoto, and Lauren Pagendarm handed out appreciation awards and related some of their amusing stories about the season and coaching staff.
In addition to team honors several of the Lady Dons were also voted to 1st or 2nd team All-League. Maricella Padilla received Team and League MVP honors.
February 17 , 2007
Congratulations Lady Dons on a GREAT Season!
Del Mar ends season in CCS quarterfinals against St. Francis.
Who would have guessed back in October that the Del Mar faithful would have been sitting in the stands at Valley Christian High School on and incredible February morning watching our team battle the #2 ranked St. Francis Lancers for the right to play in the in the CCS semi-finals.
It has been an incredible season for the Del Mar Lady Dons. Beginning the season as an unknown entity and being unranked in the CCS standings, to dominating their League, and winning the League Championship. Becoming the most successful Girls soccer team in Del Mar history along the way. Earning a first round "bye" in CCS playoffs, and then meeting up against St. Francis in the CCS quarter finals. St. Francis may have won the game, but the Lady Dons won our hearts.
Watching the team power through the season was an exciting experience from the stands and must have been just as exciting from the sidelines for Coach Padia, Coach Call and all the Lady Dons.. Coach Padia and Coach Call created a championship team in their first year here at Del Mar and I know we, the Del Mar faithful and the Lady Dons themselves look forward to several more fantasic season with Coach Padia and Call at the helm.
Congratulations Lady Dons, and especially to seniors Ashlynn Polino and Lauren Idemoto on a fantastic season!
Check back here soon for some new additions to the video library. And make sure to bookmark this site so you can keep up on the Lady Dons soccer team (for at least the next 3 years).....
February 14 , 2007
Del Mar wins first CCS playoff game, SLV shut out!
Lady Dons send SLV home with a big zero in the score column.
 Happy Valentines Day to the Del Mar Lady Dons, who held San Lorenzo Valley High School scoreless in their first round game in the CCS championships. A fast moving SLV team looked good on the field but could not get the ball in the net. The Del Mar defense played very tuff and goalie Suzanne Bernd had some great saves against some of the best shots on goal another team has had against the Dons this year. For the 4th time this year Sophomore sensation Maricella Padilla scored 4 goals to lift her season and state leading total to 41. And the sister duo of Ashlynn and Cassie Polini accounted for the other two goals the Don's scored to give them the 6-0 win.
The Amazing Dons meet up against second ranked St. Francis high school Saturday.
February 7 , 2007
Add 3 More to Padillia's Total!
Dons drop Royals in 4 - 0 regular season closer.
It was an early first half goal by Dons' forward Ashlynn Polini that put the Dons on the board. Polini worked herself inside and then punched one in past the Royals' off balance goalie. Polini's goal was closely followed by another from state scoring leader Maricella Padilla. Before the half was over Padilla would add one more to her state leading total. Although the scoring was off to a good start the Don's looked a little out of sync in the first half.
As the Don's took the field in the second half it was evident they were starting to gel. The defense kept the ball on the Overfelt side of the field for most of the half and with some great ball handling, the Dons moved themselves into position to get off several more shots on goal. Mid-way through the second half Maricella Padilla once again added to her already impressive season total with one more goal giving her a season total of 37.
Read Feb 7th Mercury News Story about Maricella Padialla >>
The Del Mar Lady Dons end the regular season with a stellar 12-1-1 record
. Next up CCS playoffs. Games begin next week. Now we wait to see what the draw looks like for the Don's first game.
February 2 , 2007
Lady Dons Lock-Up the Championship!!!
Nail-biter against Willow Glen puts Dons on top.
 In their final home game of the season the Del Mar Lady Dons put a large home field crowd through the ringer today with a tough, well played game against the Willow Glen Rams. One of the many standouts in this final home game was Dons' goalie Suzanne Bernd. Bernd was giving up the body for the Dons today hitting the ground hard to block several Rams shots. Additionally, great defensive play by #20 Lauren Pagendarm, #4 Liz Bergschneider , #14 Hilary Mormon, and every other Player in White held the aggressive Willow Glen team at bay.
Offensive players #21 Ashlynn Polini, #3 Brittany Salerno, #2 Demi Nguyen and of course #8 Maricella Padilla kept the Rams defense fighting to keep up with several near miss shots on goal. But it was a "touch" loft by Padilla in the second half that dropped in over the head of the Rams goalie who strayed too far from home, that gave the Dons the lead. The one goal and continued great defensive play in the final minutes of the game (which seemed to last forever) were enough to send the Rams home, and solidify the League Championship for the Dons.
At times, in the stands, it was hard to sit still while we watched what seemed to be foul after foul go uncalled, but in the end it was the calm restraint by Dons Head Coach Padia and the confident and overpowering play by a great Del Mar Dons team that brought home the victory.
Del Mar winds up the regular season next Wednesday at Overfelt. Feb 7.
January 31, 2007
Lincoln just runs out of gas against the Reved-Up Dons.
Lady Dons power through the Lions 4 - 0.
 Only 20 minutes into the first half #8 Maricella Padillia was was sending the Lions goalie horizontal to try and block what was to be her 3rd goal of the game. Padilla's first goal came 9 minutes and 30 seconds in. After finding herself up against 4 Lincoln defenders Padillia worked herself by them and drilled one into the net. Padilla's second goal came 6 minutes later from 30 yards out. It took and entire 7 minutes for her third goal. Before the half would end the Dons would have several more shots on goal including a close one by #10 Claudine Jimenez. Some fantastic defensive play by the Dons defenders and a couple great saves by goalie Suzanne Bernd would hold Lincoln to 0 at the end of the first half.
The Lions came out more aggressive in the second half pushing into the Dons half of the field and getting off a few shots, but again
solid defensive play by the Dons drove the ball back over mid-field. 18 minutes into the second half #8 Marisella Padilla with the help of #6 Hayley Norman maneuvered past the Lincoln defenders and drilled a cross shot into the back corner zapping any remaining hopes out of the Lions. Lincoln's frustration became more obvious in the final 15 minutes of play as they resorted to a more "physical" game and abandoned attempts to gain some ground back.
Del Mar faces a tough Willow Glen team at home Friday Feb 2.
January 26, 2007
Dons give Oak Grove goalie a real workout.
Del Mar racks up 7 against Oak Grove.
 The Lady Dons got back to their winning ways Friday, and kept the Oak Grove goalie very busy in the process. I have to give props to the OG goalie though, if not for her skills the score could have easily been in the double digits. The Lady Dons had a field day with dozens of shots on goal. The Dons controlled the game from the initial kickoff, with the ball only crossing mid-field a few times. Del Mar goalie Suzanne Bernd only saw the ball come her direction a couple times during the entire game.
Del Mar controlled the first half of the game, but mastered the second with a barrage of 4 goals to add to the 3 from the first 40 minutes of play. #8 Maricell Padilla struck net 4 times on her own and a 5th time with a little help from a deflection off an Oak Grove player. #10 Claudine Jimenez drilled one late in the second half and was followed close behind by senior #16 Lauren Idemoto who also lofted one in over the top of the OG goalies up-streached arms.
The Lady Dons seemed to have found their groove again with 3 games remaining in the regular season. They next face Lincoln at Lincoln Wednesday (1/31).
January 24, 2007
Panthers show their teeth.
Prospect plays tough and hands the Dons their first defeat
 The Lady Dons couldn't quite get in sync the first half of Wednesdays game against the Prospect Panthers. Prospect controlled the 1st half keeping the Dons on their heels, and playing defense for most of the half. The Panthers took advantage of 2 corner kicks to jump out to a 2 - 0 lead. Several very nice saves by goalie Suzanne Bernd kept the Panthers at 2. Before going into the halftime break the Dons were able to capitalize on a penalty kick by Maricella Padilla who put one in the left corner of the net on a laser shot from about 30 yards out.
After some encouraging words at half time from Coach Padia, the Lady Dons came out on to the field in the second half and began to gain control back, aggressive play and some great ball handling by senior Ashlynn Polini and Sophomore Demi Nguyen kept the Dons on offense for much of the half. But the Panthers were able to convert another corner kick into a goal. The Lady Dons didn't back off and again found themselves in front of the Prospect goal where Sophomore Brittany Salerno was able to punch one in to bring the score within one. The Dons continued to play tough, and as the clock ticked down the pace of play picked up as they attempted to get the score back to even. But it wasn't to be. The final whistle blew and the Panthers had handed the Del Mar Lady Dons their first defeat of the year. But it took 14 games to get there.
The Dons have another tough game ahead on Friday against Willow Glen at home in their fight to make CCS playoffs . Go Dons!
January 19, 2007
A Little Reality Check, but that can be a good thing.
Andew Hill stops the win streak, but Del Mar is still unbeaten
It seems so long ago, November I beleive, that the "X" wasn't in the win column. On Friday Andrew Hill brought the 11 game win streak by the Del Mar Lady Dons to an end with a 2-2 tie. Del Mar jumped out to a quick lead in the first half with two goals by the familiar number 8 Maricella Padilla. Andrew Hill struck back early in the second half with a goal, and then with the help of a few questionable "Non-calls" by the officiating crew Andrew Hill was able to bring the score even in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Although understandably frustrating for the Lady Dons to have their steak come to an end this way, there is always a positive side. The win streak may have ended, but not with a loss. The Lady Dons are still unbeaten, at the top of the league standings, and have one of the best records in the CCS.
This is an opporunity to do it all again. Del Mar will attempt begin a new streak next week Jan 24th at home against #2 team in the league Prospect.
January 17, 2007
A Determined Westmont Doesn't Go Easy!
Del Mar gives up a flurry of goals to Westmont in the second half.
With a win against Westmont , Del Mar starts the second half off right,
and improves their record in league play to 8-0 (11-0-1 overall). Del Mar
next faces Andrew Hill away on Friday.
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