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No night off: Albemarle girls soccer wins Conference 16 title

The Albemarle girls soccer team was already assured of a berth in the 5A North Regional tournament, but that didn’t mean they were going to take the night off in the Conference 16 final against visiting Atlee, a team the Patriots had already defeated once this season.

 

Albemarle’s offense came out firing, getting opportunities early and often and getting a goal from Makinna Winterton seven minutes in in a 2-0 victory over the Raiders. With the win, the Patriots’ claim the conference crown and with it a first-round bye and a home game to open regional play.

 

Winterton had nearly scored four minutes earlier but was thwarted by Atlee freshman keeper Nikki Rittenhouse. Then, Leticia Freitas fired a shot from just outside the box but it clanged off the post.

 

“If we could have scored on those early few, that would’ve provided some relief,” Albemarle coach Amy Sherrill said. “It’s a breath of fresh air to score early like that.”

 

The Patriots broke the ice shortly after when Winterton took a cross from Hannah Eiden after Eiden had executed a perfect give-and-go with Freitas and finished into the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead.

 

Albemarle kept up the offensive pressure and much of the first half was played in front of Atlee’s net, despite the Patriots being unable to stretch their lead. The Raiders, to their credit, remained aggressive and counterattacked every chance they got, but Albemarle’s back line kept goalie Ayanah Tyler-Cooper’s first half rather uneventful–Atlee failed to register a shot in the first half.

 

The Patriots continued to generate offensive chances in the second half, but didn’t get an insurance goal until the final minute of the game when Freitas outjumped Rittenhouse in front of the net on a 50-50 ball and it trickled just over the line, effectively sealing the result.

 

“We were definitely glad to be tested in this game,” Sherrill said. “We haven’t seen a team with a great counterattack, a strong midfield and good defenders like that in a while. We wish we played them day in and day out.

 

Albemarle held a 13-4 advantage in shots and 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. Rittenhouse had five saves for Atlee, while Tyler-Cooper registered three for the Patriots, who will begin regional play Thursday night at home against an opponent to be determined.

 

“We’re very happy to be on our home field,” Sherrill said. “We have great support from our fans and to be able to stay in routine is what we want.”

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