Riverbend is as loaded as Albemarle High was last season, including U-18 national pool player Ryan Zinkhan, a lightning quick junior.
Friday night, the Bears’ roster full of talent helped spark Riverbend to a 2-1 victory, but not before the two-time defending champion Patriots’ inexperienced roster gave Riverbend a scare.
“We know Albemarle’s style of play—it’s much like ours except for the last couple of years they’ve been better at doing it,” said Riverbend coach Bob Stack. “It’s going to be physical, you destroy each others’ touches and then whoever gets a lucky goal in front of the net wins.”
The Patriots struck first, with captain Eric Bohn burying a header early in the match, a goal that gave Albemarle a lot of solid momentum.
“It almost came so early that you’re like ‘alright,’” said Albemarle coach Scott Jackson. “We knew there were going to be some more goals and unfortunately we were on the losing end of the goals. I’m just proud of the kids, we’re kind of finding ourselves and tonight was a good step.”
A couple of goals certainly did. Riverbend answered Bohn’s score with a header of its own midway through the first half when Zinkhan re-directed a ball from Joe Etcho. That equalized the game, but didn’t do anything to diminish either team’s sense of urgency.
“There was kind of an electric feel to the game,” Jackson said. “They’re just really competitive, well-organized and well-coached.”
The 1-1 score held largely because of a strong effort by both goalies, particularly Adam Prevost for Albemarle, who came up with a point-blank saves with 31 minutes left on one of Zinkhan’s runs, and then another with just under 15 minutes to play. Prevost, just a sophomore, continues to emerge as one of the area’s top young keepers.
“Adam played great tonight and I’m excited about him and his future,” Jackson said.
Prevott and the Patriots couldn’t hold the Bears at bay forever though, as a Riverbend goal with 8:45 left broke the deadlock with Chris Green burying yet another header off a Bradley Cunningham cross. Albemarle tried to answer in the closing seconds and got a good opportunity when Steven Bargh ripped a ball from the right side, but Clark Melton couldn’t redirect the heater quickly enough to tie the game and is swung left of the goal.
Albemarle, currently at 5-2-2 overall and 4-2-1 in the Commonwealth, travels to Brooke Point Tuesday.
