“He knows this isn’t who we are, that we need to step up,” said senior midfielder Logan McHugh, who tallied five assists and three goals as the Rams pulled away from Lake Braddock for a 16-1 win.

Curran let his team know they were better than what they had shown in that first quarter. The numbers back the coach up: The Rams are 12-0 and outscoring teams by an average of more than nine goals per game.

But Currant wants more. The Rams’ longtime coach hasn’t seen the performance he knows is necessary for the postseason. The coach and his group are searching for a gear they know they possess but have yet to see.

“This first half, I was really displeased,” Curran said. “So seeing that second half, it felt good, I was happy, and hopefully it gives us some momentum.”

Robinson lost to Madison, the eventual Class 6 champion, in the state semifinals last season. The Rams avenged that defeat earlier this month with a 14-5 thumping of the Warhawks. They’ve bested the rest of their opponents by similar gaps, including seven wins by 10 or more goals.

As the wins pile up, the group’s biggest battle has been staying focused. Finding the balance between playing with confidence and not overlooking opponents has been a challenge they’re working to conquer.

It’s also a philosophical conundrum Curran wrestles with, toeing the line between discipline and praise.

“I know it sounds like a terrible first-world problem,” the coach said. “Certainly we’re good and we’re winning games. I got to start to see this team compete a little bit better.”

Ahead of Thursday’s game, Curran said his team needed a wake-up call. He wanted a close game that made them realize they can be beaten. The first quarter against Lake Braddock sufficed. The 15-goal onslaught that followed was exactly the response he sought.

The coach has tried different strategies to get his team to respond. He usually saves the yelling for late in games, he said. Against the Bruins, he opted to start in the contest’s opening minutes.

“He definitely gets intense with it,” said junior attacker Conner Fructuoso, who scored five goals against Lake Braddock. “But that’s who he is and that’s what pushes us to be better.”