Albemarle coach Scott Jackson felt as though his team was out worked by Woodbridge in the first half. Midway through the second, a handful of Vikings fans were screaming the opposite in the visiting stands. Everything clicked for the Patriots during the second half of its Northwest Region quarterfinal. Once Albemarle got on the board, its defense and midfield play only improved. With ten minutes to go the Patriots put the game on ice with its second header of the contest to earn a 2-0 win.
“I thought they were out playing us in the first half, but we responded to that in the second which I was very happy to see,” Jackson said. “To be honest, I think we just calmed down. I think it was nerves that got us in the first half. For a lot of our guys this is their first regional match. Once they calmed down they were able to display their abilities. The game was turned at that point.”
While possession looked even in the first half, Albemarle came out of the break firing on all cylinders, working the sidelines and attacking the net. 15 minutes into the second, it looked like Alex Bohn was going to punch a shot though on a fast break, instead the ball was blocked, but popped in the air, flew to the left side of the net for an awaiting Rowen Perry who was just barely able to head it in to break the scoreless tie.
“Alex did all the work,” Perry said. “He had a great chance on the outside and I was just lucky enough to follow and get my head on the ball and run into the post at the same time. We definitely came out harder in the second half and the intensity picked up.”
With the lead in hand, the Patriots settled in, which ironically led to more offense. Albemarle peppered Woodbridge with shots, but it wasn’t until the 70th minute that it was able to grab an insurance goal. This time around it was Jesus Duran-Reyes with a header.
The Patriots defense held strong for the last 10 minutes of play to preserve the shutout.
“In the first half they were pushing and pushing but we believed in ourselves,” said Albemarle defender Matt Sheffield. “The first goal picked us up. It made us feel as though we could try and play safer and posses the ball. But at the same time, we still like to do what we do and play our game.”
Albemarle will head to Patrick Henry on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Northwest Region quarterfinals.
