Robinson Loses Concorde District Boys’ Lacrosse Championship to Chantilly

Chantilly used a fast offensive start and a stout defensive effort to stave off Robinson to win the 2011 Concorde District boys’  lacrosse championship, 8-5.

The Chargers avenged their loss to Robinson in last year’s championship game by virtue of an opening stanza in which Chantilly scored three goals in the first four minutes of action to start the game. The momentum shifting early goals proved to be the difference, despite Robinson cutting an early 4-1 Chantilly advantage to 6-5 entering the fourth quarter.

“Our job was to come out and play hard and the guys were mentally prepared and it’s something special,” Chantilly head coach Kevin Broderick said. “We were here last year and lost to the same Robinson team in the districts. We were excited to come out and play today and it showed.”

Chantilly junior attacker Luke Bowers scored three goals to pace the Chargers, but a fundamental offensive game plan helped Chantilly to control the clock and most importantly keep a notable Robinson offense off balance and away from their attack mode. Bowers’ third goal of the game was the Chargers’ first goal in the second half to give Chantilly a 6-4 advantage.

“He’s a finisher and the leading scorer on the team,” Broderick said. “He does a great job moving near the crease and finishing. He’s fantastic at it; that’s why he’s first-team all-district.”

Whenever Robinson came near Chantilly’s goal crease, Chargers’ senior goalie Eric Simmons thwarted away numerous attempts by the Rams.

“Eric stepped up,” Broderick said. “They’re averaging more than 10 goals [a game] and many of them were point blank shots and Eric stepped up and played fantastic, so that’s what makes a championship team.”

After trailing early, Robinson showed why they were the defending district champions and why they will have a shot at regionals by showing composure and rallying well during the second and third quarter. Much of the Robinson offense was led by junior attacker Clarke Pietruszka, who scored three goals for the Rams.

“I’m proud of these guys, they don’t give up,” Robinson head coach Matt Curran said. “When they got down early they always tend to comeback. We couldn’t get back all the way. One of the good things about this team is they’re never going to give up.”

Robinson senior midfielder Thomas Petrocci’s strong angled goal past defenders jettisoned the Rams to within one goal of tying the game, down 6-5 with 1:32 left in the third quarter.

Chantilly rose to the occasion in the fourth quarter when senior midfielder Craig Penman found an open lane on the right side of Robinson’s defense for a goal with 10:53 remaining in the game to help the Chargers sustain a two goal advantage. A little over a minute later, Chantilly scored again when junior attacker Daniel DeCenzo reluctantly separated the ball free from Robinson goalie Louis Lukaczyk’s possession and gathered the loose ball to create a perfect assist to senior attacker Kyle O’Connor with 9:31 left in the game.

With a three goal advantage, the Chargers whittled down the clock and dominated the time of possession for the final 12 minutes in their favor to close out the game.

Both Chantilly (15-1) and Robinson (9-4) will host regional playoff games on Tuesday, May 17.