After battling its way back to the Northern Region final, Robinson regained the crown it was once so familiar with on the strength of three players who remember that feeling.

Ram seniors and four-year varsity members Kerry Robinson, Heather Bourne and Erin Hills tallied goals Thursday in Robinson's 3-2 region final win over West Springfield at Annandale.

It is the Rams' seventh region crown in nine seasons, and their first since the current senior class were freshmen in 1999.

``It's a great feeling," Bourne said. ``We wanted to get back here and win it again as seniors."

Robinson improved to 15-2-3 and will host the loser of tonight's Northwest Region final between Woodbridge and Hylton next Tuesday in a Group AAA quarterfinal. West Springfield (10-9) will travel for a quarterfinal matchup with the Northwest Region champ.

Once again, Robinson got the Rams started early. The All-Region midfielder scored from point-blank range in the first minute on a hard shot that was still rising when it struck the back of the net.

``It was important to come out early and get things started," said Robinson, who scored in the second minute of the Rams' 6-0 win over Hayfield in Tuesday's region semifinal. ``We just wanted the title back. We have a great group of seniors and we were looking forward to doing what we did as freshmen. Now we're looking forward to states and wining that, as well."

Upstart West Springfield, which knocked off defending Group AAA champ W.T. Woodson in the region semifinals, did not go down without a fight. Just after halftime, Spartans senior Emily Baskin's corner kick to the near post was re-directed by senior Lauren Cirino and then driven inside the far post by junior Jamie Hudson to tie the game at 1.

The Spartans appeared energized by drawing even, then equally deflated when Bourne's goal secured the Rams a 2-1 lead in the 60th minute.

``What I impressed upon the girls is that if West Springfield beat Woodson, they can beat anybody and don't assume this is the same team you faced two or three weeks ago," Robinson coach Jim Rike said in reference to his team's recent shutout of the Spartans. ``But we had a lot of experience out there and it's kind of been [the seniors'] goal all year to get back and win the region."

Hills' blast from the top of the box extended the lead to 3-1 in the 75th minute and proved vital. West Springfield sophomore Kimmy Murdock scored in final minute to make it 3-2.

Rike said he thought the state quarterfinal matchup between the Northern and Northwest Region pitted the top two areas in state against one another. Rike added he ``might just be in the stands" for tonight's Northwest Region final.