Patrick Henry holds on in 6-5 win over visiting Albemarle in a Regional Semifinal contest
Group 5A Boys Lacrosse Playoffs – Albemarle vs Patrick Henry-Roanoke
5A Regional Semifinals, Patrick Henry HS, Roanoke, VA– In a ‘Patriotic’ rematch from the first match of the year, the Patrick Henry Patriots (14-1) made it two in a row against the Patriots of Albemarle (9-8). The number one seeded Patriots survived a spirited second half comeback from the C-ville Patriots to get the win 6-5 and advance to the Regional Finals.
The first matchup was all PH late in a 10-3 victory. This time around, the Purple Patriots went up 3-0 before Albemarle found the net. PH Attacker 17 Ben Delsey made in 1-0 at 7:56 of the first quarter. Albermarle was better all night on the face-offs but struggled early advancing the ball upfield against a solid PH defense. The Pats forced several turnovers in the first half confusing the visitor’s with a man to man defense that left no open player for the goalie to distribute the ball.
PH Coach Josh Wilkinson was happy with the hard fought win. “We got out to a good start. The guys were focused.” PH Attacker 4 Jack Kenney scored the next two PH goals. The first came with only :09 left in the first quarter. The right corner dart put PH up 2-0. Kenny added another goal in front of the net with 9:21 left until the half to put the home team up 3-0.
Albemarle finally got it going with their ace in the middle, 7 Brock Stroud two minutes later, 3-1 PH.
Patrick Henry made it 4-1 with Attacker 6 Rowan Gregory’s shot at the 5:21 mark. It looked as if PH might put this one away early. Funny thing about the sport of lacrosse. Things can happen fast. Momentum is a fickle friend. Albemarle tightened the score 4-2 on a goal by 8 Peter Kronebusch at the break.
Middle 25 Carson Derey, a defensive gem forced into an offensive role due to injuries, made it 5-2 with 5:24 in the third on a shot up the gut. Stroud answered in a crowded middle to tighten the match again 5-3. But PH 6 Rowan Gregory stretched it back out to a 3 goal margin, 6-3, with 8 minutes and some change left.
Albemarle wasn’t don’t yet. Midfielder 3 Hayden Yow closed the distance with a goal off the PH goalie 1 Cole Devine’s left flank, making it 6-4.
Derey was called for pushing in a critical time with 2:42 left leaving PH a man down. Albemarle took advantage as Attacker 23 Kris Kirkeide made it 6-5 with a shot in front of the goal with only a minute fifty six left.
Albemarle had a chance to tie it up but Stroud, now guarded by Derey, was stripped of the ball, by the Junior. Wilkinson talked about the defensive adjustment, “We felt our defense was getting a little bit tired. He’s (7 Stroud) a big kid so we wanted to get a bigger body on him. It’s a good matchup for Carson (25 Derey). He guarded him in the first game and did a really good job on him.”
Albemarle had one more chance late by goalie 1 Cole Devine made the save and ran out the final seconds. Wilkerson was high on his man between the pipes, “Coles a great player. He sees the ball well, very vocal.”
Wilkinson was pleased with his defense’s ability to close it out, “It was good for us to play a real tight game, a gut check game. We haven’t had a lot of close games this year. It was good to see our defense win it.” He was also complimentary Albemarle, “My hats off to Albemarle. We played them the first game of the year, in like 35 degree weather, howling wind and rain. A big difference today.
PH will now face Midlothian (12-4), 9-4 winner over Douglas Freeman, at home on Friday in the Regional Finals.
SCORING-Goals: PH– Jack Kenney 2, Rowan Gregroy 2, Ben Delsey 1, Carson Derey 1 ALBEMARLE– Brock Stroud 2, Peter Kronebusch 1, Haydon Yow 1, Kris Kirkeide 1