McDonogh senior attackman Robert Clark wasn't going to be denied in the third quarter of Tuesday's Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference semifinal game against Boys' Latin.
He adamantly charged his way to the cage, fended off a defender with one hand and used his other to sling a shot that stunningly found the net.
The goal was in the midst of six straight for the No. 1 Eagles and best depicted an overwhelming third quarter that helped produce a 13-7 win over the No. 3 Lakers at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field.
The win sends McDonogh (14-4) to Friday's championship game against St. Mary's. Game time is set for 8 p.m. at Johns Hopkins University's Homewood Field. Tuesday's game also marked the end of Boys' Latin coach Bob Shriver's 36-year tenure as he steps down with a 507-139 record and six league championships.
"I'm just disappointed of losing today. I guess maybe tonight sometime I'll reflect that that was the last time I stand on the sidelines, but we really wanted to win the game. The kids wanted to win the game, so that was our whole focus," said Shriver, who received a warm ovation following the game. "It's been a joyful ride. I'm as lucky as anybody that you could possibly imagine. I coached at a great school, a lot of great kids and we had a lot of great moments. We've won some great lacrosse games, so there's nothing but joy walking off the field today."
He added that his Lakers (15-5) played a poor third quarter and was quick to credit the Eagles for making that happen. Clark and fellow senior Robby Black each scored three goals to lead the Eagles.
Tied at 4 at the half, the Lakers took a 5-4 lead before the Eagles rattled off six unanswered goals — the first three in a 1:52 stretch — to close out the third quarter with a 10-5 advantage that was never threatened. Black and Clark had the first four goals in the stretch.
"The third quarter was definitely the heart and soul of this game for us," Clark said. "It was a close game going into the half, so getting all those goals in the third quarter definitely put us over the top to get us this win. "
As for the one-handed goal, giving the Eagles an 8-5 lead with 3:58 to play in the pivotal quarter, Clark added: "They took my left arm out of it so the only way I could get it in there was one-handed, sling it in there and I did. That definitely pumped us all up and got the fans happy."
On Friday, McDonogh will chase after the program's third MIAA A crown and first since 2005.
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