Albemarle’s football team faces a gauntlet of talented, tough Commonwealth District opponents every year — but field hockey doesn’t get any free ride either. Not with two 2009 state tournament qualifiers (North Stafford and Mountain View), neither of which may be the best squad in the district, on the docket.
If Thursday night is any indication though, the Patriots should be up to the task this year.
Albemarle took North Stafford to the brink Thursday night before the Wolverines’ Sydney Melillo connected on a reverse stick shot from point blank range with four minutes left in overtime. The goal lifted North Stafford to a 2-1 victory, but Albemarle made it clear nothing was going to be easy for Commonwealth foes this yearm no matter how much inexperience the Patriots are contending with.
“We’ve got some really young talent and they’ve been proving they can play at the varsity level,” said senior goalie Cate Johnson. “I think we’ve got the skill and drive to be tough competitors.”
Albemarle bounced back well from a lull midway through the first half that led to a Wolverines goal with 8:16 left before the break by Melillo off a Meghan O’Connor assist. The Patriots missed a short corner opportunity with 4:30 left, but responded with 11 seconds left when junior Becky Johnson broke through with a well-placed shot from close range.
“She’s really got a hunger in her for getting goals—she can finish,” said Becky’s sister, Cate Johnson. “Our offensive line is looking a lot stronger.”
That goal gave Albemarle the momentum heading into halftime, and the Patriots capitalized by controlling the play for the most part throughout the second half despite being undersized up front.
“We have some small girls on our team, especially up on the front line,” said Albemarle coach E.A. Jackson. “It can be a little intimidating. They’re finding their voices together as a team and figuring out how to work together—this was some of the prettiest field hockey I’ve seen them play.”
Cate Johnson battled in goal, forcing several shots wide as North Stafford’s talented front line peppered her with shots whenever the Wolverines got the ball into the zone.
The Patriots fell earlier this week 1-0 to Brooke Point, so the loss drops them to 0-2 in the Commonwealth.
North Stafford, who ousted eventual state finalist Mountain View from the Commonwealth District tournament semifinals last season, moves to 2-0 in the CD. Albemarle will take on Mountain View next Tuesday on the road.
