They would never lead again.
Yorktown controlled the next 47 minutes and cruised to a 22-10 victory. The Patriots rebounded from a losing record in 2023 and earned their second state crown in three seasons. Yorktown matched its season high for goals in the rout.
“It kind of feels like a dream,” Keimig said. “This is something that we wanted from the very start of the season.”
Keimig felt the Patriots came out flat when Robinson edged Yorktown, 8-7, in the second game of the season. The coach also noted the team did not execute as it tried to find the right positional placements.
On Saturday, Yorktown’s energy was constant as the Patriots scored four or more goals in all four quarters. Senior Libby LaPierre, a two-time captain, finished with four goals.
The Patriots outscored Robinson 12-4 in the second half.
“We went into this game wanting to play dominant,” LaPierre said. “We wanted to reassert our name after our game [earlier] in the season when we played Robinson.”
Yorktown’s triumph followed an 8-10 season in 2023. Keimig attributed the growing pains that season to the struggles of a young roster that lost experienced talent from the group that won the state championship in 2022.
This season Keimig scheduled matchups against some of the top teams in Northern Virginia, including exhibition games against private schools Paul VI and St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes.
After being blown out by Paul VI last season, the Patriots felt they had made strides after losing by just three to the Panthers in this season’s exhibition. The feeling continued when they lost by one to St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes.
“For us to be able to contend with two of the top private school teams in the state, that was a huge honor for our girls,” Keimig said. “That’s when I realized I have a really, really special team this year.”
After losing to Robinson early, the Patriots put together a 19-game winning streak that included two victories against a Madison program they had never beaten.
Keimig said her team was “fired up” when it learned it would have a chance to face Robinson for the state title. About three months after falling to the Rams, Yorktown stormed the field as champions.
“I’m over the moon,” LaPierre said. “There’s no better way to go out … than winning something so monumental.”