Senior Night Rally Lifts Ramapo Over Northern Highlands

They may still be teenagers, but there is little question they have come of age.

With 10 victories already this season, Ramapo has matched their win total for all of last year. The Raiders returned most of last year’s team for 2011, but where they once were fearing, they are now feared.

Thursday night’s 7-5 win over Northern Highlands is just the latest example. Ramapo fell behind early before they scrapped and clawed their way back into the lead before virtually willing themselves to victory with two goals in the final 3:45.

“We were on the cusp of breaking the game open all night,” said coach Tim Roy, “and even though we didn’t put them away until the final minutes, we always believed we’d get it done. When it matters most is when we’re most confident in ourselves.”

For a team with several landmark victories this year—triumphs over lacrosse powers like Don Bosco and Bergen Catholic—Ramapo earned this win the old-fashioned way: they fought for it.

Northern Highlands knotted the game at 5-5 with just over seven minutes remaining, marking the fifth time the game had been deadlocked. Chris Colaneri put Ramapo ahead with 3:42 left, and Dan Smith prompted a collective sigh of relief when he scored an insurance goal with 1:27 left—the first two-goal cushion either team had all night.

“We really came together in the second half, and showed we were the better team,” said goalie Mike Turpan, after making 16 saves—most of which seemed to come at crucial times. “Maybe our success has surprised some people in the county, but we expected to be in the position we’re in right now. Everybody here is experienced, and everyone is confident in one another. We never give up, and we believe we can always come back no matter how far down we might be.”

Turpan himself speaks like a cagey veteran when, in fact, he’s in his first year on the varsity. Like his team, Turpan has improved steadily over the season, and, with 40 saves in Ramapo’s last three games, appears to be hitting his stride.

“Turp has been amazing,” added Roy. “He’s a testament to hard work. He came to me at the end of last year and asked what he had to do to earn the starting job. He’s got just the right temperament for a goalie. He’s got a short-term memory, and he never lets a goal bother him.”

The Raiders struck for the lead just over two minutes in on the first of two Zach Hirsch goals, but didn’t take the lead again until early in the second half. Hirsch put them ahead 5-4 less than four minutes into the fourth quarter. Highlands roared back to tie the game four minutes later to set the stage for high drama—and on a night the seniors were celebrated in a pre-game ceremony, they sent their moms home with more than flowers.

Sunday at 11 a.m. Ramapo will square off with Ridgewood in a county tournament game at Indian Hills. It’s been five years since Ramapo has beaten one of the county’s premier programs. Then again, it’s also been a long time since Ramapo has played with this much poise and confidence.

What a difference a year makes.