Attackman Robin Bomberger scored a career-high seven goals, including three in a clutch 63-second span in the fourth quarter. Offensive standouts Ben Goodwin, Ben Bilodeau and Kodie Richards each scored a goal. And the Titans continued to battle, even when they trailed late.
But in the end, penalties and a five-goal, fourth-quarter deficit were too much to overcome for the T.C. Williams boys lacrosse team. The Titans suffered their first loss of the season on March 18, losing 15-12 to Edison at Howard Field.
T.C. Williams seemingly played a man down every couple minutes after as the Titans committed a slew of penalties.
"I think we played a good game," first-year T.C. head coach Michael Mulherin said. "It’s just that we let the penalties kill us and made some sloppy mistakes. … Other than that, we’ve improved."
The Titans, playing in their first home game of 2010, trailed 14-9 when Bomberger scored with 5:29 to play. The junior scored again seven seconds later and a third time at the 4:26 mark to cut the Edison lead to 14-12. But the Eagles scored again with 3:33 remaining and neither team scored again.
Bomberger’s previous single-game career high for goals was four.
"We thought we were getting good looks on the crease," Mulherin said. Bomberger "was putting himself in the right position and taking advantage of the opportunities he had. … He just has a real knack for being able to find the open hole for himself."
Bomberger said playing time as a freshman and sophomore has helped him improve as a goal scorer. He also said the team has its sights set on once again becoming a winner.
"I think the expectations we all have are to have a winning record for the first time since we won the districts in 2006," he said, "and make it to regionals."
Kirk Cooper and Jimmy Carragher each scored one goal for T.C. Williams. Cameron Lyons was the Titans’ goaltender.
Mulherin said his expectations are to be competitive in every game, but the Titans ran into a tough West Springfield team on Saturday and lost 18-1. Bomberger scored T.C. Williams’ lone goal, his 10th in three games.
"West Springfield was one of the top five high school teams I’ve ever seen," Mulherin wrote in an e-mail. "… I can’t tell you a specific player they had that stood out, but they played like a well-oiled machine with great fundamentals. They just beat us in every aspect of the game [Saturday] night. Playing them was a great learning experience for our team, though."
T.C. Williams faces Oakton at 6 p.m. on Friday at Madison High School.