For the first ten minutes of the game, Albemarle’s girls lacrosse team was able to keep Monticello within sight. However, a seven minute stretch where the Mustangs ripped off seven goals thanks to the efforts of Ari Slate, Brittany Haun, Jessie Valentic and Sydney Larese pushed Monticello way out in front. Up comfortable in the second half, the Mustang’s varied yet dominant offense continued to roll and although the Patriots found some life late in the game, the damage had been done and Monticello wrapped up the win 19-7.
“We have decided recently that we need to control the ball and take care of it,” said Mustangs coach Karen Hackett. “Making that decision on attack is huge. We can get the draw control, but give it away just as easy. So hopefully we’ve moved closer to looking after the ball, making smart passes and smart decisions. If it’s there, take it, if not, hold back. We don’t just want to run down the field and shoot.”
To open the contest, Alex Johnson and Haun were able to make a 2-0 game for the home team in the first two and a half minutes. Albemarle’s Candance Carey put her team on the board though just a minute afterwards and both teams traded goals soon there after to make it a 3-2 game a little less than midway through the first half.
It was hardly out of nowhere as Monticello’s offense had played well early, but for the next seven minutes the Mustangs dominated, churning up fast breaks, distributing the ball effectively in their set offense and as such, piled up the goals.
“They started face guarding me and I knew it was coming,” said Haun who had three of seven scores in that stretch. “When a team puts pressure on me, I’m going to go. I’m not going to wait for them to make a mistake, I’m going to force their mistake and play off it.”
With a little over 10 minutes until the break, suddenly the Mustangs were up 10-2.
Not much changed between halves as Monticello quickly worked its way to a running clock. Halfway through the second Albemarle’s talented Connor Carson finally got on board, although the deficit was still 10 goals. Over the last four minutes of play the Patriots kept the Mustangs off the board and tacked on three of their own to finish on a positive note.
“We definitely played in the last few minutes,” said Albemarle coach Laurie Pratt. “It’s a shame we didn’t play that way the whole game, but that’s how it goes sometimes. When you’re a young team still putting it all together, sometimes it jives and sometimes it doesn’t.”
For Albemarle, Carey scored a pair of goals. Carson, Beth Ann Parkhill, Mariead Toms and Kirsten Mendelsohn each had one goal.
Monticello’s Taylor Paige was as impressive in net as her team was on offense. The senior goalkeeper made 15 saves on the night.
“She had an incredible game,” Hackett said. “This is her first year as a goalie and last year was the first time she ever picked up a stick. I can’t believe we ever played a game without. She’s see the ball incredibly well.”
Haun had a monster game with six goals and an assist. Slate, Valentic and Larese each had five point nights. Larese had five goals while Slate and Valentic each had hat tricks to go pair with two assists each. Johnson had two goals and assist.
Albemarle plays Douglass Freeman on Thursday at home at 7:30 p.m.
Monticello hosts Rockbridge today at 5:30 p.m.
