Albemarle’s field hockey team didn’t just sit back and try and protect a one-goal lead against Patrick Henry Tuesday night.
Instead, AHS went on the attack and on a cold, rainy night Albemarle rolled 5-0 over Patrick Henry in the Conference 16 semifinals, earning a spot in the Region 5A North tournament as well as a chance to play for a conference title against Atlee, who beat Orange 3-1 Tuesday.
“I was really pleased with the girls’ intensity and just their tenacity in terms of going to the goal and scoring,” said Albemarle coach Katie Robinson. “That drive and that heart is really what propelled us.”
Brittany Cramer finished with a pair of goals including AHS’s opening score that led to a 1-0 halftime lead. After the break, Cramer notched her second after Kat Bianchetto and Katelyn Hunt scored a goal each, with Hunt’s pushing Albemarle’s advantage to 3-0. Bianchetto then provided an insurance goal for AHS late to make it 5-0.
Cramer’s relentlessness was a big part of Albemarle’s barrage of attacks on the Patrick Henry defense.
“She’s a physical player,” Robinson said. “This is only her second year playing field hockey but she’s just an athlete. She works hard and beats people to the ball and she wants it.”
Junior keeper Logan Wood presided over the shutout effort against Patrick Henry. She and the rest of the Albemarle squad will try and put together a similar effort against Atlee Thursday at 6 p.m.
