Robbinsville boys’ lacrosse squad 10-2 and improving

Sean Moylan Sports Writer
    Good coaches never, ever want to lose.
    Even so, Robbinsville High boys’ varsity lacrosse head coach Chris Penna knows his talented Ravens probably took more out of an 11-3 home loss to CVC rival West Windsor-Plainsboro North on April 29 than they did in any of their victories.
    “We were flat and we made a lot of mistakes. We played a tight game,” said Penna, who felt his club had too many defensive breakdowns. “The only game we didn’t play well the entire season was the West Windsor-Plainsboro North game. Maybe they just have our number (right now).”
    Members of the WW-PN squad were aware of how well they played against Robbinsville. When Robbinsville plays WW-PN next year, expect a fantastic defensive effort by the Ravens, who always learn from their mistakes.
    “When we face each other, nine out of ten games it’s going to be a one-goal game,” said Penna, who credited WW-PN for playing brilliantly. “Our starting goalie John Delgado (four saves) did okay but we didn’t play well in front of him.”
    Delgado gave up five goals in the first half, but when he surrendered a couple of tough ones at the start of the third period, Penna put in Brandon DiDonato, who made nine saves the rest of the way. Jeff Ivey scored a pair of goals for Robbinsville. John Eckstein had a tally and Tyler Fasanella chipped in with two assists.
    After the game, Penna talked to his team about never having regrets and leaving it all out on the field each and every game. Inspired, Robbinsville went out and pounded an over-matched Ocean squad 14-2 on Friday at Ocean Township.
    “We played a solid three quarters,” said Penna, who substituted liberally in the fourth quarter. Even with all the junior varsity players in the game, Robbinsville still outscored Ocean, 6-1, in that period.
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Jake Sonnenfeld scored his first goal of the season. Fasanella scored five times and had two assists while Eckstein tossed in four goals and set up a pair of Robbinsville tallies. E.J. Schmid (four assists, a goal), Ivey (two goals), and Justin Carrubba (two assists) were all very productive.
    “Ivey played well,” added Penna.
    DiDonato’s great second half in the WW-PN game earned him the start against Ocean. And DiDonato made the most of his opportunity, making 11 saves while giving up just a pair of second half goals to Ocean. Robbinsville took 35 shots and won 30 ground balls in the Ocean game.
    Although Robbinsville (10-2) qualified for the post season quite some time ago, this is a big week for the Ravens, nonetheless.
    “It would be nice to host a playoff game,” said Penna, who’d love to see his club continue its winning ways this week.
    Robbinsville was scheduled to have hosted Allentown this past Tuesday. In an effort to get ready for the post season, Robbinsville added a road game versus Princeton on Saturday to its schedule. After missing the past few weeks with an injury, Robbinsville’s starting goalie Joe Borzio is expected back for that contest. Delgado and DiDonato, however, should be commended for how well they played in goal during Borzio’s absence. Next Tuesday Robbinsville is scheduled to host New Egypt.
    GIRLS LACROSSE
    Despite a hat trick by Alex Casperson, the Robbinsville High girls’ varsity lacrosse team dropped a 19-7 decision to West Windsor-Plainsboro North at Plainsboro on Monday.
    Nicole Douglass (two goals), Kaylee Tully (goal) and Christy Wham (goal) also scored for the Ravens in the loss.
    Robbinsville is scheduled to host John P. Stevens on Friday. Robbinsville is scheduled to host Princeton in a first round Mercer County Tournament game on Saturday. Robbinsville is scheduled to host Bishop Eustace on Monday. It is scheduled at New Egypt next Tuesday.
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