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Defense steps up for Albemarle boys lacrosse in win over Monticello

Photo by Bart Isley

 

Albemarle’s boys lacrosse team’s defense just kept standing up, kept snuffing out Monticello possessions in 6v6 work — the sport’s equivalent of great halfcourt defense.

 

It was blue collar work, with Matthew Willis stopping 13 shots in the cage as the final line of defense, but it made a consistently productive offensive effort count as the Patriots beat Monticello 13-7.

 

“I thought our defense was really good, the settled defense helped it and we did a better job clearing the ball and getting it upfield,” said Albemarle coach Dave King.

 

Statistics supported King’s assertions. Willis’ saves were huge, as were a run of ground balls that created extra possessions and few of those opportunities went completely to waste with just one failed clear the entire game for the Patriots.

 

Meanwhile offensively, Andrew Scanlon, a deadly scorer in his own right, set the table for teammates with three assists on the night as well as a pair of goals. Daly Sembrowich and Alec Kelly each benefited from the attention Scanlon drew and notched a hat trick each. Kelly also chipped in an assist. Cooper Cramer scored twice for the Patriots while Tim Lindenbaum, Timmy Myers and Jake King each had a goal. Lindenbaum and Warner each had an assist. Albemarle executed well in man-up situations with foul EMO goals.

 

The game was particularly tight early on as Albemarle led just 4-3 in the second quarter. They stretched that back out to 6-3 by halftime and a strong third quarter helped them create some more distance with a 9-4 lead heading into the fourth. That steady scoring came in spite of a lot of different lineups being on the field for the Patriots.

 

“I don’t know what combinations are going to work, but I think we played probably 20 different (players on offense) especially in the midfield,” King said. “We’re doing a lot of different things and seeing what we can exploit.”

 

Monticello surged a little in the fourth but Albemarle kept answering and offsetting any potentially significant run by the Mustangs.

 

“We just did not execute our game plan,” said Monticello coach Tucker Tapscott. “We’re working in a lot of new faces and they’ve been huge additions, but any of the little nuances they’re still learning every day.”

 

Ethan Young led the Mustangs with two goals and an assist while Cooper Hauser had two assists and Handley Hauser had a goal and an assist. Trevor Bratton, Warren Wilson, Bailey Hauser and Mitch Plantz rounded out the Monticello offense with a goal each.   

 

The Mustangs face the second part of a tough week Friday night on the road against Western Albemarle while the Patriots will look to keep things rolling against Mills Godwin at home the same night.

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