If that’s what sluggish looks like for Albemarle’s attack unit, the Patriots are going to be very dangerous if they kick into high gear during this postseason.
Albemarle got a productive afternoon from attackmen Hunter McCann, Billy Crist and John Chandler en route to an 11-4 victory over Mountain View in the Commonwealth District semifinals.
“To me we were a little bit sluggish at attack, the ball was dead in our sticks too much,” said Albemarle coach Pat McAdams. “We’re better than that, but the guys did fine, finishing fine and I thought we did pretty well placing shots.”
Chandler, a sophomore, led the Patriots with four goals while Crist totaled a hat trick and a pair of assists and McCann had two goals and two assists of his own. Crist got things going with two goals in the first quarter after Mountain View took a one-goal lead, then Chandler went on a run of his own with three straight goals while Albemarle’s defense locked down the Wildcats.
Chandler has had a strong year with the solid attack unit, led by the seniors, Crist and McCann. Crist does most of the table setting for the Patriots while McCann and Chandler handle the majority of the finishing.
“(McCann) has been back and forth from attack to middie and I think staying at attack has been really helpful,” Chandler said. “I think we can go a long way with him.”
Albemarle was in control at the break, and kept the pressure on in the second half, finally allowing a goal late in the third that only cut the Patriots’ lead to 9-2. A quick goal from McCann to start the fourth ended any distant hopes of a Mountain View rally.
Junior defensive midfielder Ryan Carlisle and senior close defender Geoff Quick did a lot of the dirty work, with Carlisle leading the squad with eight ground balls.
“That kid has grown so much in a very short season so far,” McAdams said. “He did an outstanding job, his focus has really improved.”
Seniors Dalton Stokes and Patrick Tubridy had a goal each to round out the scoring, with Tubridy also notching an assist.
In the cage, Austin Sigler and Zack Delgrosso had four saves apiece.
The Patriots now head to the Commonwealth final Friday, and are set for a Northwest Region berth 6 p.m. Monday.
