Albemarle field hockey’s journey through one of the toughest districts in the state took a positive turn Thursday night when the Patriots picked up their first Commonwealth victory over the year, topping Massaponax 2-1.
Becky Johnson, a junior, knocked home both goals for the Patriots (1-3), scoring unassisted on one and off an assist from Paige Northup on the other.
Albemarle lost two overtime games to start the season, falling to both Brooke Point and North Stafford 1-0 as an inexperienced offense gets adjusted to district play.
The Patriots’ schedule won’t get any easier. They take on Monticello and Annandale Saturday in the Dottie Bo Field Hockey Invitational Saturday where they’ll serve as the host team. The Monticello/Albemarle matchup starts at 10 a.m., then Monticello and Annandale face off at 12:30 before Albemarle and Annandale take the field at 3 p.m.
After that busy Saturday, Albemarle will point toward a Tuesday battle at home with Stafford, one of the state’s best squads who pounded Mountain View 6-2 Thursday. Albemarle fell to Mountain View earlier this week.
