A popular pickup truck commercial boasts the make is Ram-tough.
Tuesday evening at PH Stadium, Patrick Henry found out the Robinson Rams were equally qualified to bear that moniker.
Scoring the game’s first seven goals, Robinson held tough the rest of the way as the Rams defeated the Patriots 11-6 in the 6A boys lacrosse state semifinals.
Robinson came out of the gate smoking. They continued to push their offense, using a precise rotation format around the PH goal that led to quick scoring opportunities. Robinson, which dominated on face offs most of the first half, then reloaded the attack and kept the pressure intact.
“We wanted to jump on them early,” Robinson head coach Matt Curran, a Rutgers player in his heyday, noted afterward. “The offensive strategy was to circle behind the goal, push back and look for an opening in front. The guys sold it. Plus, it helped we were playing outstanding defense at the other end. The 7-0 lead worked to our favor.”
“PH had an awesome year,” Curran added. “They only had one loss coming in and most of their wins were by big margins. We really weren’t sure what to expect.”
The Rams’ defense was like a stone wall most of the first half. None was better than Robinson junior goalie Ryan Keith. Keith made one spectacular save after another as the Rams built the early advantage.
“Lacrosse is a game of runs,” Keith said after the win. “When the offense gets you a 7-0 lead it alleviates a lot pressure. We practice defending those shots six days a week.”
Patrick Henry finally got off the goose egg with 2:22 left in the second quarter, and added their second goal 40 seconds later after a Ram penalty. The teams went to the break with Robinson up 7-2, giving hope to a second half comeback for the Patriots.
PH took the second half face off and raced in front of the Ram goal where a scrum and loose ball led to a breakaway goal by Robinson in the first 30 seconds. Two minutes later Ram attacker Chris White made it 9-2 Robinson.
The Patriots closed to 9-3 on a goal by senior Sam Boxley with 2:05 left in the third, but the Rams put the dagger in when they scored with 5 seconds left to make it 10-3 heading to the final 12 minutes.
Patriot Noah Hollander’s goal with just under 9 minutes left cut the deficit to six, but Ram junior middie Austin Henry countered at the 6:37 mark to return the lead to seven.
Boxley and sophomore Brice Johnson added goals 14 seconds apart in the final two minutes, but it was too little, too late for the Patriots.
“It was tough getting down seven at the start,” Patrick Henry head coach Josh Wilkinson noted. “They were getting easy back cuts and we had to find a way to adjust. We just kept telling the guys to make every play count. We played much better and outscored them 6-4 the rest of the way. Overall, it’s been a good season. The program keeps getting better.”
Bill Turner