By Phil Murphy
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com
**Check below the story for video players. Re-live the girls' final in 12 minutes, 15 seconds and the boys' game in 9:29. For the best simulation of the State Championships, watch the highlights three feet from an open furnace.**
Robinson entered the VHSL AAA Final on Saturday searching to become the first school to win both the boys' and girls' state titles in the same season since Lake Braddock swept Woodbridge in 1989 title games.
The Rams left the Westfield Spring Jubilee with a serious need for hydration, wicked shinguard tans and two trophies -- one of which was for first place.
Coach Jim Rike guided the Rams to a record-tying fifth state championship by way of an 89th-minute poke-and-pray goal from junior forward LeighAnne Baxter. Robinson held back Battlefield in the ensuing moments to secure a 2-1, double-overtime win.
"There was a lot of excitement," said Baxter, second on the team in goals to sophomore Audrey Barry, who was limited to 23 minutes with a tender right ankle. "I'm still kind of absorbing it all. Kristen [Smith] had it and played it through... I just tried to place it.
"There was so much excitement."
Added Rike: "My first thought [was] thank God it's over."
Through 65 minutes of play in regulation, though, neither team could break the scoreless deadlock. But as tired legs began show, scoring chances increated exponentially. And in the 66th minute, it was the Bobcats that broke through.
Freshman midfielder Alyson Shaughnessy's long ball landed on the instep of senior Jessica Jewell. Jewell coolly finished for the game's first goal and what appeared to be the game-winner over Robinson (21-1-0).
However, just 23 seconds later, a Baxter cross ricocheted softly off forward Stephanie Johnson, hitting off the far post before trickling across the goal line. The Ram celebration was a mixture of elation and shock, the latter of which was felt by Battlefield (21-3-0) and its supporters.
"This is all so surreal, I don't really believe it," said Ram goalkeeper Katherine Yount, one of only two senior starters (Kristen Smith). "I still can't believe we won Districts, Regionals and States. This is really just a testament to the effort this team put in. It was a team win. All throughout the season they were team wins.
"I've never won States before, never been to the state tournament. Last year, we could have been here -- we should have been here -- and they just wanted to do this for the seniors. It feels awesome."
In the second half of Saturday's soccer doubleheader, Robinson fell to Central Region champion Deep Run, 1-0. It was the Wildcats' 17th shutout of the season.
"We have to play with our heads up," said Robinson coach Jac Cicala, a four-time state champion at Lake Braddock. "It was a great year. I mean, my God. We left 300 schools behind to get here. There's nothing disrespectful about losing in a championship game, 1-0.
"We had our chances, but credit to Deep Run. They kept it out of the net."
In the 12th minute, Deep Run took the lead on -- well -- a deep run by senior Brian Ownby, crossed to senior Bryan Wharton for a right-footed finish inside the far post. The Wildcats continued to try and extend their lead, but despite holding a 15-8 advantage in shot attempts, were unable to extend the margin.
"For a moment, I thought we would [equalize]," said Robinson senior captain Seth Goldman, limited to 28 minutes after aggravating a sprained ACL in the semifinal on Friday. "Brad [Morgan] had a good chance on a ball inside the box. We had a couple of good chances in the box, but that's just how championship games go."
Added Cicala: "I'm never concerned when we're 1-0 nothing down. You never want to be one down, but in this game anything can happen. I've won some big games in the less than two minutes."
The Rams (12-5-3) had a number of scoring chances themselves, more of which came after half time. Cicala adjusted the formation to add a fifth midfielder at the half, a change that Deep Run (22-2-1) took until the 70th minute to fully adjust to.
Saturday may not be the last time these match-ups are seen in the state tournament. The two girls' teams lose combined five starters, while the boys' graduate six starters apiece -- visibly less than the average state champion-caliber squad.
"Last year, it was a lot more fun," said Rike, whose five state titles have come in nine state tournament appearances. "No one expected us to do anything. We had six freshmen in the starting lineup. This year, there was a lot more pressure. People said we had all the pieces. It's nice when you set a goal at the beginning of the season and are able to accomplish it."
Added Cicala: "We'll be good. We have a good corps of players coming back, we'll take that as a positive. We have a good JV squad and we'll rebuild again and see how it goes."
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
Girls' Final
Battlefield vs. Robinson
