"I usually play for the senior girls," says the year 10 pupil who only plays for her school's futsal and football teams.
She gravitated towards goalkeeping because she put her hand up every time the coaches asked for someone to do the job in a position that seldom lures big numbers.
Ask her what makes her so good, McDonald replies: "I've got quick reflexes."
No doubt, she selflessly credits her frugality to a tight defensive unit in the back line.
That's not all. At the other end of the indoor game, Casey Ralph picked up the Golden Boot for 21 goals.
Another 14-year-old, year 10 pupil, an ambidextrous Ralph took up futsal four years ago and made her debut in the school first XI team last winter.
The footballer will make her debut for Napier Marist women's team outdoor this season and has been in the national talent centre of the outdoor code since last year.
She puts her scoring prowess down to accuracy and good teammates.
McDonald and Ralph say futsal and football compliment each other in honing skills.
Apart from Kayla Lander and Libby Duff, the rest of the team will graduate to the senior team next year.
The school's senior girls finished sixth at the nationals despite losing just one game.
New Zealand Futsal White Tai Barham helped the juniors, who Cameron Webber mentored before leaving for university, before the Bay secondary schools' tourney on March 15, which the youngsters won.
That gave the juniors a spring in the step heading to the nationals which lured 76 teams.
HNHS juniors coach/manager Paula Edilson says the girls' received gold badges at school and the photograph has pride of place on the wall of the principal's office.
Edilson says the regionals offer an opportune preparation for the nationals in a tourney structure to experiment with formations.
HNHS have 17 teams catering for all abilities and she says is one of few schools that has strength and depth to field junior and senior teams.
"If we had not split up teams our senior girls probably would have done better but we wanted to give as many girls as possible the opportunity to go to the tournament," she says.
She endorses the children's allure to benefits the parent code and its offshoot offer.
"Students love futsal as it improves their football skills and it is never cancelled.
"Parents love futsal because it is a quick, fast game."
The Napier Boys' High senior boys were runners-up at the nationals as were Hastings Boys' High juniors in their grade.
