Albemarle boys soccer doesn’t want to wait to strike. They don’t want to take time to settle in. They want to take control.
“Our mantra late in the season is we want to find form right now,” said Albemarle junior Jack Dofflemyer. “We’ve been able to connect early and that’s been our primary focus.”
The approach worked and boosted Albemarle right into the state final four as the Patriots continued a wild run through the playoffs with a 3-0 victory over Douglas Freeman in the Class 5 state quarterfinals.
Luke McClung made sure Albemarle took control early, finishing off a cross from Fernando Maldonado shortly after the match started. After an own goal by Freeman, the Patriots were up 2-0. Maycol Echeverria tacked on the third goal with 16 minutes left to play when Maldonado drove down the goal line and chipped the ball over his defender’s head before finding Echeverria in the middle.
“The last couple of games have been tough sledding as far as getting goals and we didn’t want to leave it (up to chance) that late,” said Albemarle coach Zach Laird. “We wanted to make a statement early.”
Being up two goals for the majority of the contest allowed Albemarle to settle into their defensive-minded approach that has worked particularly well in the postseason. Albemarle has now won six straight postseason games from sub-region up to the state quarters and surrendered just three goals in regulation.
That owes in part to the chemistry between the junior quartet of goalie Joe Stein, Dofflemyer, Johnathan Biediger and Tilman Sherwood as well as freshman Devin Kriebel.
“Johnny and Jack play together in club and Til fits right in and from minute one of preseason Devin came in and really has been tremendous for us all year,” Laird said. “When we do give up the occasional chance, we’re really confident we have Joe back there to bail us out.”
Albemarle will now face Princess Anne Friday at 11 a.m. at Riverside High School in Leesburg.
“Since I was a freshman, this was a dream of mine,” Dofflemyer said. “We’re all so tight, we really want to make something out of it. We’ll try to make the most of it and bring home that ring.”
