Albemarle’s girls soccer program, collectively, is getting sick of penalty kick situations in Commonwealth District tournament play.
For two straight years the Patriots exited the district tournament on PKs.
Not this year.
“To get it done right this time was awesome,” said Albemarle coach Jon Hall. “I felt very confident in those this time.”
The Patriots prevailed in penalty kicks 4-3 over Mountain View to advance to the Commonwealth title game.
After a back-and-forth, physical Commonwealth semifinal Thursday that included an overtime period with several near misses, Albemarle went to penalty kicks. The Patriots buried three of their first four chances, while Mountain View clanged a pair of attempts off the left post—their first and last to be exact — to open the door for Megan Schnell, Albemarle’s fifth shooter.
“I think Emily (Leytham, Albemarle’s goalie) made a big presence for herself in there,” Hall said. “Because when they hit the post like that… they were worried.”
Schnell drove her chance to the goalie’s left side but Mountain View’s keeper guessed correctly and got her hands on the ball, but the force of the ball carried into the goal and gave Albemarle the win in PKs after a 1-1 finish to regulation and overtime.
Albemarle broke through in the scoreless contest early in the second half when Maggie Tubridy struck to put the Patriots up 1-0. Mountain View came up with the equalizer with 11:57 to play.
The teams traded fruitless runs from there deep into overtime, with one of the Patriots’ best chances coming when Carmen Thomas unleashed a beautiful shot in the golden goal portion of overtime. Thomas’ shot sailed just high of the crossbar and the match continued.
Albemarle will host the Commonwealth District title game Monday night after getting a well-earned weekend off. The Patriots have already qualified for a Northwest Region tournament berth.
