Robbinsdale Armstrong hasn't had much luck winning close games this season. The Falcons have four heartbreaking one-goal defeats.

But Robbinsdale Armstrong’s 5-4 overtime home loss to Northwest Suburban Conference rival Champlin Park on Monday may be the one that stings the most.

The Falcons had the Rebels (11-0, 10-1), ranked No. 11 by the by Minnesota State High School Boys' Lacrosse Coaches Association, on the ropes with a shot to knock out the league leaders.

Champlin Park, however, battled back to force the game to overtime and then capitalized on a potentially season-ending knee injury to Robbinsdale Armstrong goalie Colin Cahill to score the game-winning goal and escape the Falcons’ upset bid.

“It is what it is, and the boys battled,” Robbinsdale Armstrong coach Luke Gellerman said. “We will not get blown out by any team. I don’t care who we play, there’s no way with my guys - and how tough they are and how hard they work - that they would allow that to happen because we battle with every team.” 

Cahill and the defense worked hard to keep the Falcons in the game. Cahill made 14 saves, while the Robbinsdale Armstrong defense bottled up a Rebels’ offense averaging 11 goals per game in conference play.

The Falcons held a 3-2 lead late in the third quarter when Champlin Park’s Nick Bunde scored the tying goal. After a scoreless fourth quarter, the game when to overtime where things unraveled for Robbinsdale Armstrong with 1 minute, 15 seconds to play.

Cahill made a spectacular body save, jumping to stop the ball. The senior hit the ground, but didn't get back up. Teammates carried Cahill off the field, setting him down where he could safely watch the rest of the game. He didn't have to watch long. Rebels senior Mason Schmitt scored the game-winner just 25 seconds after the game restarted following Cahill's injury.

“It hurts losing the rock of our defense,” Gellerman said. “If his knee would’ve popped back in he would’ve gone back on the field, that’s how tough he is.”

Cahill had been struggling with an Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion, which Gellerman described as a natural deterioration of the knee. OCD lesions typically begin with a breakdown of knee cartilage, which extends into the bone. 

Cahill had surgery last summer to clean up the injury and alleviate pain in the knee.

Cahill, who has 73 saves and a .695 save percentage, likely won’t be back in goal with only two regular-season games remaining. He said he plans to play lacrosse at Whittenburg University in Ohio next year.

Following the game, Champlin Park came to the sideline to give Cahill a handshake.

“He’s been one of the best goalies in the state, and it’s been an honor to work with him for the past few years,” said teammate Nathan Borowick. “It’s terrible to see something like that happen to him.”

Borowick tallied three goals in the loss and needs only one more to tie Robbinsdale Armstrong’s single-season scoring record. Bobby Moore set the mark with 34 goals in 2007.

“I did check the record books,” Borowick said.

The youngest of four brothers who played lacrosse, Borowick said he has plans to break the record to outdo the accomplishments of his siblings.

Gellerman said Borowick can do it.

“He’s the youngest, smallest and toughest of the Borowick brothers and that’s fact,” Gellerman added.

Gellerman also said that Borowick is also the best saxophone player in the family, which is one of the junior attackman’s biggest interests off the field. 

“I really enjoy it,” Borowick said. 

The Falcons might also really enjoy another opportunity to upend the Rebels, which could take place in the Section 7 playoffs. A victory over Champlin Park in the postseason might soothe the sting of this loss for Robbinsdale Armstrong.

Senior midfielder Mason Schmitt scored the game-winning goal late in overtime, helping Champlin Park eke out a 5-4 win over Robbinsdale Armstrong in a Northwest Suburban Conference matchup Monday at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School. 

The Rebels (11-0, 10-0), ranked No. 11 by the Minnesota State High School Boys' Lacrosse Coaches Association, nearly had their undefeated record ruined by the Falcons (7-4, 6-4). 

Robbinsdale Armstrong led 2-0 midway through the second quarter when senior Gage Monson scored for Champlin Park. The Falcons answered with goal, but the Rebels rallied with goals from Justin Linderholm and Trent Molnau to enter halftime with the game tied 3-3.

Robbinsdale Armstrong regained the lead early in the third on the third goal of the game from junior Nathan Borowick. 

Senior Nick Bunde scored the equalizer for Champlin Park with 4:34 to play in the third. 

The Falcons had a chance to win the game late in the fourth, but were stopped on four consecutive shots by Rebels senior goalie T.J Johnson, sending the game to overtime.

Robbinsdale Armstrong saw its opportunity to defeat Champlin Park disappear with 1:15 to play in the extra frame. Falcons senior goalie Colin Cahill made a great body save but landed wrong and twisted his knee. He was replaced by sophomore midfielder Nicholas Gonrowski, and the Rebels capitalized just 25 seconds when Schmitt scored to help Champlin Park escape with the victory.

Cahill finished the night with 14 saves, while Johnson had seven.

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