By Luke Nadkarni/Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
Just about every successful team has that go-to player they can rely on to come up big when they really need him or her.
For the Albemarle girls soccer team, that player is Maggie Tubridy.
The senior forward scored both Albemarle goals, one in each half, to lead AHS past visiting Patriot High 2-1 in Monday’s AAA Northwest Region quarterfinal.
“Maggie Tubridy is one of a kind,” Albemarle coach Jon Hall said. “I’ve been coaching for 28 years, and I’ve been fortunate enough to coach only a handful with her ability.”
The Pioneers actually got on the board first on a well-executed give-and-go that sliced up the Albemarle defense. Eight minutes into the game, Ashley Pennington placed a through-ball to Kristin Schnurr, who dribbled into the box and crossed the ball back to Pennington. Pennington easily beat Albemarle goalie Grace Leytham to put the visitors on top.
That lead did not last long, however, thanks to Tubridy with a little help from the Pioneers’ Gretchen Wisby. At the 25:24 mark in the first half, Tubridy fired a shot from the left side of the box, and it deflected off Wisby and into the net to even the score at 1-1. That score held as the teams left the field for halftime.
The second half was much more physical than the first, with the Pioneers turning up the intensity. That aggressiveness, however, became their downfall, as they were called for a foul in the box with just over 18 minutes remaining in the game. Taking the kick for Albemarle was none other than Tubridy, who put the ensuing penalty kick past diving PHS goalkeeper Ruby Williams, notching what proved to be the game-winning goal.
“I think the physicality worked to our advantage,” Hall said. “It fired us up and made us hungry. [Patriot] was getting frustrated, and that’s why they drew the PK.”
Albemarle’s defense buckled down for the stretch run, with goalkeeper Grace Leytham and company thwarting each Pioneer attack. Leytham tallied seven saves in the win.
Albemarle will host the winner of the Woodbridge-Patrick Henry contest on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in the regional semifinals.
