NP boys lax rolls past Stone
Eagles score game’s first 11 goals
On an overcast, windy, chilly day when the visiting North Point High School boys lacrosse team scored the game’s first 11 goals and coasted to a 13-1 victory over host Thomas Stone on April 7 in a Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Potomac Division contes, Cougars senior goalie Troy Robinson downplayed the onslaught as his final season draws to a close.
Robinson recorded seven saves during the course of the contest, which hardly put a dent in the outcome, but his performance highlights a changed mental attitude and dramatic physical change. Robinson admitted to entering high school considerably overweight, but his interest in athletics, which initially began with wrestling, enabled him to lose 60 pounds and attempt other sports.
For the past three summers, Robinson has run with the Stone cross country team in a conscious attempt to stay in shape, logging more than 100 miles along the way. When his playing days at Stone end this spring, Robinson plans to attend the College Of Southern Maryland this fall and perhaps play for the men’s lacrosse team there.
“It’s all about your mental approach,” said Robinson, who also considered playing football and soccer for the Cougars. “I was able to lose 60 pounds because I worked out. I wanted to lose the weight. I never ran cross country, but I’m a member of the ‘mule team’ which means I run in the summer. When I play lacrosse, I try to focus on the ball. Today was not a great day, but they all can be better.”
North Point (3-5, 1-0 SMAC Potomac) controlled play from the opening face-off and it enjoyed a modest 6-0 halftime advantage and pushed the lead to 11-0 before Stone’s Adam Park ended the Eagles’ shutout bid with a goal just past the midway point of the third quarter. North Point goalies Gage Brocato and Jason Rowland combined for three saves.
“I thought we played very unselfish today,” said Eagles senior Brandon Johnson, who had one goal and three assists during the lopsided victory. “We passed the ball really well today. We have not had a lot of games like this before today. But today was very good. Now we’re hoping to get past the first round of the [Class 4A East] region playoffs.”
Johnson’s performance underscored North Point’s balance and overall unselfish play in the April 7 contest. The Eagles got goals from eight different players, with Aryan Tabayoyong, Connor Staudmyer, Maxwell Palmer, Michael Meade and Braydon Sokolowski each scoring twice and Brandon Johnson, Calen Johnson and Timothy Staudmyer adding one goal apiece.
In the girls game that North Point hosted, Eagles senior Ali Zadeh eclipsed the 150-goal plateau during her career while leading the squad to a 15-3 victory over Stone.