It’s not how long you have the lead, just as long as you have it at the end.
Trailing Mills Godwin midway though the second half, what was a fairly quiet game simply exploded into a scoring melee with Albemarle scoring three of the games final four goals including Marcel Berry’s game winner with just two minutes and change on the clock. As a result, the Patriots are set to play in the 5A state championship game with their 4-3 win over the Eagles.
“It gets crazy in these playoff games, but our boys kept their cool,” said Albemarle coach Jeff Balnave. “When Mills Godwin equalizes it late, the responded quickly, stayed cool and finished off the game the right way.”
While the Patriots dominated the time of possession battle in the first half, and also outshot the Eagles, they had little to show for it as Mills Godwin held a 2-1 lead heading into halftime. In between goals from Mills Godwin’s Hampton Hall and Cullen Hall was Berry’s first of two goals, one he tapped in off a rebound after a Brendan Moyers shot glanced off the keeper.
“We changed things up (in the second half) by playing three up top and so the guys in the middle had to do a little extra work, but we felt like that help to create a lot more pressure,” Balnave said. “We decided we didn’t want to leave anything behind, to just go for it.”
The first part of the second half was played mostly at midfield with few opportunities being presented to either side. But with 17 minutes to go, Berry found a wide open Moyers who connected to make it 2-2. Matt Natale then made the game’s defining save moments later as he dove and just tapped away a sure goal. Ten minutes later, the furious finish played itself out.
In a stretch where momentum was fleeting, three goals were scored in three minutes. Albemarle took its first lead of the game when Kevin Salazar blasted a shot from outside and found the top shelf of the net. However, the celebration was short with Mills Godwin getting an equalizer just over a minute later on a shot from Henry Moridca.
Not to be outdone, and obviously looking to avoid another overtime or penalty kick scenario, the Patriots game winning goal came off a set play. After earning a free kick from outside, Brendan Moyers placed a ball perfectly in front of the net. Waiting for it right at the goal line was Berry who punched it home with authority to make it 4-3 with just over two minutes to play.
“(Moyers) kicked it and it bounced through a couple of bodies and just landed there perfectly,” Berry said. “It was right there in front of me so I just turned around and kicked it as hard as I could.”
The Eagles success offensively came mostly on fast breaks, but with the Albemarle defense saggy back to preserve the lead late, Mills Godwin was not able to generate anything in the home stretch.
Albemarle will play for the 5A championship for the second time in three years. The Patriots travel to Robinson High on Sunday at 7 p.m.
