Rabil has become Mr. Clutch

Saturday marked the third time Rabil scored a game-winner this year. Prior to last week, he set a schoolsingle-season record with two game-winning goals in overtime in a 7-6 win over Princeton (March 3) and an 8-7 victory at Maryland (April 14).

“It?s been cool coming up with goals like that this season,” Rabil said. “But it?s not something I?ve necessarily tried to do. This season, we?ve been able to turn to a number of different players who came up with big plays when we needed them.”

Going into Saturday?s game at Towson (8-4), Rabil leads Hopkins (6-4) with 25 points, is tied with Stephen Boyle for the team lead in assists (10) and is second in goals scored (15). The 6-foot-3, 220-pound DeMatha graduate also scored the 100th point of his career with his three-goal effort in the win over Navy.

Rabil is one of two returning first-team All-Americans after becoming the first Hopkins sophomore since A.J. Haugen in 1998 to earn that honor last year. Also, Rabil became one of 17 finalists for the 2007 Tewaaraton Trophy last week. The annual award is given to the nation?s top college lacrosse player.

“It?s such an honor to be mentioned in the same group with players like [Duke?s] Matt Danowski and [Navy?s] Billy Looney,” said Rabil, who is one of only four midfielders in the final group.

While Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala is impressed with Rabil?s timely scoring, he is more pleased to see him involve teammates with a solid pass rather than forcing an ill-advised shot.

“The best thing he did [against Navy] was that he made his teammates better by dodging and moving the ball and sharing it,” Pietramala said.

RABIL NOTES

» Johns Hopkins junior midfielder Paul Rabil has 63 goals and 37 assists in his career.

» Rabil came on the national scene as a freshman when he scored four goals in a 12-11 come-from-behind win at Syracuse.