They’re the local boys lacrosse version of the Washington’s Redskins’ Smurfs — a group of wide receivers in the early 1980s who weren’t big, but made a huge impact with speed and guile.
A fleet of fast, speedy standouts lead Albemarle’s offense, giving the Patriots balance that makes them as unpredictable as any unit in Central Virginia. Whether it’s Matt Crist, Kevin Bernardino, Hunter Brown or a host of others, Albemarle can get production from anywhere on the field.
“It’s like 2, 5, 7, 9, 11…it’s all the same guy,” said Western Albemarle coach Alex Whitten. “(Albemarle coach) Greg Crow is like cloning those guys down in the basement.”
Brown took the leading role for that group Tuesday night, notching a hat trick and an assist, with each score coming at a critical time. He found Cameron Green for a goal on the doorstep and a 7-5 lead after the Warriors closed the gap to just a single goal.
“We inverted him and it was just one of those things where (he thought) ‘I’m going to make him slide’,” said Albemarle coach Greg Crow. “Nothing was open unless he made them slide and that, to me, represented toughness. That’s physical toughness from a little guy and you can’t replace that.”
He then made the flashiest play of the night when he entered from the box during a transition, snagged an overthrown ball during the Albemarle clear and took off toward the goal. Brown buried the ball in the back of the cage for an 8-5 lead.
“I just kept a full head of steam coming into the box and nobody slid to me,” Brown said. “I had an open shot so I just let it fly.”
After the squads exchanged goals, Brown struck again, this time with 3:30 left for a 10-6 lead, icing the game for the Patriots.
Matt Crist had two goals and an assist for Albemarle while Nick Pegg had a pair of goals himself.
With Western Albemarle hamstrung by unforced turnovers, Albemarle goalie Nathaniel Gaspar needed just five saves in the win. The Warriors struggled to move the ball offensively, committing overthrow after overthrow.
“When you turn the ball over and you’ve got to go up and down in transition—the turnovers are just so deflating,” Whitten said. “That’s disappointing for our guys.”
Still, the Warriors refused to go away quietly, with Holland Corbett’s hat trick setting the tone offensively. Drew Abernathy scored twice for the Warriors while Justin Haws, Sumner Corbett and Oliver Herndon had a goal each.
“Our guys played so hard tonight,” Whitten said. “We had moments of brilliance.”
The Patriots will try and keep hold of the top spot in the West Central Division Thursday when Albemarle hosts Monticello. The Warriors will try and bounce back against Charlottesville Friday night.
