Albemarle’s girls lacrosse team battled back. The Patriots, fought and clawed late in the first half to even the game and then seemed to take command with a three-goal lead with 11:11 to play.
But the final 10 minutes belonged to Salem and the Spartans advanced to their first state tournament in program history with an 11-10 win over Albemarle in the West Central Section championship.
Salem went on a 5-1 run to close the game, overcoming the incredible stretch of the second half when Albemarle seized control with well-sustained 7-2 run of their own. The Patriots dominated the draw during the run and Ryann Murray scored her three goals during the run.
“We were able to bring it back right at the end of it,” said Albemarle coach Laurie Pratt. “I think we overall played a really nice game but we had some bad breaks there at the end that really cost us.”
Salem had to shake that run off and create turnovers to hang with the surging Patriots, and they did just that. It seemed that every time the Spartans needed a big ground ball, Roanoke College-bound Makenzie Haymaker came up with it. She also poured in three goals in the process.
“I was a little nervous — we flirted with a zone defense yesterday that we didn’t end up using,” said Salem coach Maggi Pace. “The girls, when they’ve had to grit it out this season, absolutely do.”
Salem also got a hat trick from Jordan Hayes and two goals and two assists from Cate Pace. Rebecca Mendelsohn tallied two goals for the Patriots.
While trying to fight back themselves down the stretch, Salem had to contend with Albemarle’s do-it-all star Connor Carson. Carson scored five goals and dished out two assists in what became her high school career finale, an the Old Dominion-bound senior earned another fan in the process.
“I give 100 percent credit to Connor Carson, she is an amazing midfielder,” Salem’s Maggi Pace said. “We just switched three girls in and out and we hoped that that would cause enough confusion to make it work out (defensively).”
Salem (15-2 on the year) will play Western Albemarle (who beat James River on the road Friday) in the West Central Section title game Monday night in Salem.
The loss ends the career of a senior class that’s been directly responsible for the program’s ascent to one of the area’s best, including Carson, the 2012 Scrimmage Play player of the year. Kelsey Rund, another senior, came up with seven saves in the cage.
“They’ve just been incredible — we have eight seniors, two of which have been with us since they were freshmen,” Pratt said. “They really have just built the team to where it is today. I think the group that remains behind is more than capable of being at the same level and beyond.”
