R.G. Keenan shines in final regular season lacrosse game

Soon, the crowd would be singing his name.

The No. 5 North Carolina men’s lacrosse team , down a goal with fewer than three minutes left in its cathartic 11-10 win against No. 9 Virginia on Saturday at Fetzer Field, had seconds earlier scored to tie the Cavaliers, 10-10.

Then senior midfielder R.G. Keenan, inspired and intuitive, won the ensuing faceoff, powered down the field with purpose and precision and unleashed a high, bouncing shot that snuck under the crossbar, past UVa. goalkeeper Matt Barrett.

Then, minutes later, the crowd, almost 5,000 strong: “R-G! R-G!”

Keenan , playing in his first full game at Fetzer this season and possibly last ever, won the final faceoff of his regular-season home career, and then the game.

“He’s always looking to win it,” coach Joe Breschi said after the win, UNC’s fourth in a row and one of its most important: it propelled the Tar Heels (9-2, 2-2 ACC) to third place in the conference and increased their chances of qualifying for the ACC Tournament later this month.

That it was Keenan — who’s missed most of the season with a leg injury — who scored the game-winner, on Senior Day, made it even sweeter.

“That was incredible by R.G.,” said sophomore goalkeeper Kieran Burke.  “Last game on this field, or possibly last game on this field. Must feel great for him.”

Keenan’s faceoff win — his 11^th of the game   and his second game-winner in as many weeks — took five seconds . After sophomore midfielder Steve Pontrello tied the game with 2:33 left , Keenan lined up for the faceoff.

"We need possessions," Keenan thought. "Our defense has been playing well, but we need the ball."

It’s what he thinks before every faceoff, Keenan said. Just win the ball.

“That’s just been him for four years,” Breschi said. “He’s terrific at it.”

He scooped the ball up and started running.

“He comes tumbling down,” said junior attacker Joey Sankey , who scored three goals and assisted two.  “We always feel confident that he’s gonna get a good shot or we’re going to back it up and keep possession.”

That faith was not unwarranted, and after Keenan’s shot fired past Barrett, the senior and the crowd, erupted. The game clock read 2:28.

“It’s awesome,” Keenan said, simply but powerfully after the game.

Burke was more forthcoming about the magnitude of the goal.

“That was huge,” said the keeper, whose saves in the final minutes allowed Keenan to be in a position to score the game-winner. “The momentum that brought was incredible. It got our defense’s energy up. Really sealed the game for us.”

Now, as UNC navigates its way through the dodgy end of the regular season and starts of postseason tournaments, it’ll have its faceoff specialist, finally healthy and fully confident.

“He’s coming along great,” Breschi said. “He’s had a couple of rough weeks, but ... he’s really focused this past week on getting himself better.”

Maybe, then, the crowd will sing his name once more.