Pulled up to varsity for the lacrosse playoffs as a freshman, Lakeville North’s Roman Rohrbach validated the promotion by holding his own.

Every game since, the burden has fallen on opponents to hold him; few succeeded. He became a three-year starter, two-time all-state selection and, this spring as a senior, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year.

Rohrbach will play lacrosse at the Air Force Academy next season. The focus now is the state tournament, beginning with a game against Blake on Tuesday at Minnetonka High School.

Rohrbach, a member of the Panthers’ 31-0 hockey team, is aiming for his second state title in three months. The experience gained on the ice was invaluable.

“On the hockey team, everyone got along and we were all in it together,” he said. “I wanted to bring that to lacrosse and make sure we’re all working hard. I think we’re playing our best lacrosse right now.”

Cut from the hockey team as a sophomore but brought back the same year, he used the adversity to increase his drive. A summer of hard work and a strong showing at a Maryland tournament made him a recruiting target. Selecting Air Force, he said, “is a great opportunity to serve my country and to be part of something bigger than myself.”

Fostering a similar attitude among lacrosse teammates requires Rohrbach to lead by “always working hard. You’ve got to set the example right away, showing guys how hard you have to work if you want to make the team.”

He’s not shy about being vocal, either.

“It’s truly his team,” Panthers coach Jeff Wright said. “He’s the first to get in his teammates’ faces and lift them up. His leadership on and off the field is top-notch.”

Considered by Wright as the quarterback of Lakeville North’s offense, Rohrbach ranks third on the team with 38 goals and first with 40 assists. That’s a higher number of helpers than many of the state’s top goal scorers. He makes the area behind the opposing team’s net his office. “For the offense to be successful, the other players have to move off ball,” Rohrbach said. “My teammates this year have been amazing moving off ball. I can find them easily and that leads to all the assists.”

When it’s time to attack, Rohrbach goes to the net hard, an aggressive style he said “comes from my hockey game. I was on the third line and finishing checks was my role. That definitely helped me be more gritty around the net in lacrosse.”

Drawing more attention this season failed to unnerve him. “Teams are definitely sliding earlier to me, trying to get on my hands so I can’t feed other teammates,” he said. “But that creates more space for my teammates, and they’ve done a great job getting to it.”