It’s become the heavyweight battle of local public school girls lacrosse. Just two awfully good squads, throwing punch after punch in an effort to outlast the opposition.
Three games later, and just three goals separate the three wins between Western Albemarle and Albemarle High with the rubber match going to the Patriots in a 15-14 overtime barnburner Thursday night in the West Central Division tournament title game.
“I’ve never had a team where everyone loves each other—we work so hard,” said Albemarle’s Rebecca Mendelsohn. “We all push each other and support each other, it’s just so great.”
The Patriots battled back from a 7-5 first half deficit with a four-goal spurt that stretched from late in the first half to early in the second half. Then the squads see-sawed back and forth from there before ending regulation with a 14-14 deadlock.
“In the first half we were trying to get players open inside and kind of forgot about our driving game,” said Albemarle coach Laurie Pratt. “In the second half we really had a more balanced attack and I think it really worked for us.”
Ryann Murray broke the tie with 2:10 to play in the second overtime period on a free-position shot, burying the eventual gamewinner. From there Albemarle held on, burning about a minute and a half off the clock before Western gained control off a turnover. Some timely defense by Kirsten Smith, who’d been a force the entire game while drawing a tough assignment guarding Bridgett Shaffrey, helped Albemarle prevent the equalizer.
“Kirsten was on Bridgett like crazy,” Mendelsohn said. “She never gave up, she was going 110 percent, she was just doing great.”
The Warriors struggled to get off a shot in the closing seconds and a loose ball eventually melted the rest of the clock to give the Patriots an emotional win for Pratt, who teared up in the postgame huddle.
“I’ve never seen her do that,” Mendelsohn said. “But we’re all really emotional about it.”
Mendelsohn and Connor Carson led the Patriots’ offensive effort with four goals each. Carson also dished out a pair of key assists and hauled in eight draw controls, a game high. Murray finished with two goals while Kristen Mendelsohn and Hanna Shaps had strong nights with a goal each. Mendelsohn also had two assists while Shaps tallied one.
Shaffey and Mady Baker each finished with hat tricks, but Peyton Brandt led the way for the Warriors’ dynamic offense with four total goals and a pair of assists. Baker also had an assist. Becaa Moriconi finished with seven draw controls on the night.
Despite the loss, Western coach Nancy Haws was pleased with what the 2012 series between the Patriots and Warriors says about local girls lacrosse.
“Just the fact that we can compete on this level is so fabulous,” Haws said. “It’s absolutely fantastic.”
The Patriots and Warriors both advance to next week’s West Central Section tournament where they’ll play the Central Division’s third place team.
