The timeout Lakeville North boys’ lacrosse coach Jeff Wright didn’t call in Tuesday’s state tournament quarterfinal became his best move all game.

His team clinging to a two-goal lead with Blake in hot pursuit, Wright watched as junior Jack Thomas took off with the ball down field. Opting to “bite his tongue,” Wright allowed Thomas to finish the play with a pivotal goal in the Panthers’ 10-8 victory.

Down 3-0 in the second quarter, No. 4 seed Lakeville North (13-4) scored eight-consecutive goals only to see No. 5 seed Blake throw its own counterpunch, cutting the Panthers’ lead to one with 2:31 to play.

“I think it’s exactly what we expected from the No. 4 against No. 5 and I thought we played a great game,” said Lakeville North senior attackman Roman Rohrbach.

Rohrbach, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, erased Blake’s early 3-1 lead by scoring three of his team’s next four goals and assisting on the other one.

“He’s a trend-setter,” Wright said of the Rohrbach, who ranks third among Panthers in goal and first in assists. “He gets the offense going.”

The spark produced a 8-3 lead into the fourth quarter. But Blake (11-5) wasn’t finished. Four-straight goals, including two from Gus Austin, resulted in a 8-7 score.

“I was feeling pretty good about it,” said Blake goalie Nick Washuta, a member of the Star Tribune All-Metro team. “We we’re hoping to tie it up.”

Lakeville North called timeout.

“It was intense,” Wright said. “You’re playing good team and you can never take any time off. That was too close but in the end we prevailed.”

Lakeville North’s insurance goals came on Luke Anderson’s third of the game and a near field-length effort from Thomas for his sixth of the season.

“That was awesome,” Rohrbach said. “That was a huge goal. He’s been a great player all year and credit to him for running down the field for a good shot and a good goal.”

Trailing by three goals in the first half failed to unnerve Lakeville North. Led by Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year Roman Rohrbach, the Panthers clawed back for a 10-8 victory in the boys’ lacrosse state tournament quarterfinals Tuesday.

Rohrbach scored three times and assisted on a goal, turning a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead after three quarters.

No. 4 seed Lakeville North (13-4) withstood a furious rally by No. 5 Blake (11-5). Behind 8-3, the Bears scored four consecutive goals to draw within one of tying. But Lakeville North scored twice to create the needed cushion.