Stories

Shorthanded stunner: Albemarle’s Murray scores in overtime to push Pats past Monticello

Photo by Bart Isley

Even getting a fortuitous break with a penalty for too many players on the field called on Monticello to start overtime, Albemarle’s girls lacrosse team had its work cut out for it. The Patriots were still playing down a player, and they were going to have to be patient and hunt for a good opportunity.

 

The Patriots’ Anna Murray found it and capitalized, lifting Albemarle to a 12-11 overtime win over Monticello.

 

“I think it was definitely a mental adjustment,” Murray said. “We knew we were going to be man-down the entire time and right before the overtime coach talked about how we needed to dig deeper and find our core really and work together as a unit. It was really a mental adjustment to say that we can still do it.”

 

Murray eventually got the ball in the heart of the Monticello defense and while driving right, spun back to her left and buried it. Murray has a history of coming up with game-winners. Twice last year in the Region 5A North playoffs, Murray connected in overtime to keep Albemarle moving forward including in the region title game.

 

“She’s our overtime girl,” said Albemarle coach Lauren Thraves. “She keeps her cool in that situation.”

 

The win was another and perhaps the most strenuous step left in the Patriots’ Jefferson District campaign. Albemarle is now within striking distance of going unbeaten through its district slate for the first time in recent memory. Locking in against the Mustangs was no easy task, especially once the Patriots were forced to play shorthanded.

 

“I think we were definitely on a high after the game against Western (last week) but we knew this was going to be a tough game physically,” Murray said. “I didn’t think any of us thought we were going to be man-down that much of the game but I think we definitely came out less focused and we realized we needed to focus more throughout the game.”

 

It didn’t help matters that Monticello star Paige McGlothlin got into a groove after halftime. She scored the equalizer with 29 seconds to play to help send the game to overtime, her seventh goal of the night to go with one assist. Marking the Mustangs’ electric scorer is no easy task.

 

“Paige is amazing,” Murray said. “We have great defenders on our team, it wasn’t really this person cover her, I think we were all up to the challenge. I think each defender did a great job.”

 

While Monticello (9-4) came out on the short end of sudden victory overtime, it was a tremendous step forward for the Mustangs, who fell 19-12 to Albemarle in the squads’ first meeting. The Patriots’ Jenn Wendelken dominated the draw in the second half of that one to help spark Albemarle, but Monticello didn’t allow a similar surge this time around.

 

“We’re getting there and it’s great to see this improvement right before the playoffs,” said Monticello coach Trent Holden. “We had a Saturday practice last week and I told them ‘you need to go into every game thinking you can win.’ A lot of times we play Albemarle and Western and they’re so nervous before the game. So it’s just (about) having that mentality.”

 

Albemarle led 5-4 at the half but Monticello scored quickly in the second half to take a 6-5 lead.  From there the game seesawed back and forth before Albemarle took an 11-9 lead and then McGlothlin scored at 4:06 and then again with under a minute to tie it up.

 

Albemarle’s Kelsey Myers and Cam Edson’s hat tricks led a balanced offensive effort for the Patriots and they each had an assist as well. Wendelken and Murray finished with two goals each. Morgan Rose had two assists for the Patriots.

 

Caroline Sheppard finished with six saves for Albemarle.

 

Meghan Walin scored three goals and had an assist while Caleigh Smith finished with a goal and Kendall Smith notching an assist.

Comments

comments