Robbins is putting her best foot forward

Johnston Sun Rise ·

“Records are meant to be broken,” said former Johnston High School football great and Hall of Famer Bill Gelsomino when learning that his daughter and fellow JHS Hall of Famer Amanda’s record of 113 soccer goals was eclipsed by JHS junior Bianca Robbins last week.

Robbins tallied four times in the Lady Panthers’ 11-0 win over Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy. Robbins added two more goals this past Monday night against Central to bring her career total to 116 goals and counting. She is also the state’s leading goal scorer.

The Lady Panther soccer team remains undefeated in Division III at 8-0 and is looking to complete the task of winning a championship, something that eluded Robbins and her teammates last season after going unbeaten in the regular season, only to lose to East Providence in the final.

The multi-talented Robbins, who won championships last season in basketball and lacrosse, hopes to win a third title in the same calendar year this fall as she and her team have been dominant thus far. She has scored 36 of her team’s 83 goals this season.

“I truly think we have a great chance to win the championship this year, we just need to work as a team,” Robbins said. “If we stay focused as a team and keep our eye on the championship as a team, we definitely can win. It will take a complete team effort and not one person trying to do everything themselves. No matter what sport I play, my number one goal is to help my team to be the best they can be. It would be really great to win a championship in soccer because it is the first sport I ever played. I have spent the most time training and traveling for soccer. Another part of winning a championship in soccer would be celebrating it with some of my friends who haven’t won a championship in anything else.”

When the RIIL passed a new rule saying athletes can play two sports in the same season, Robbins jumped at the opportunity to join the Johnston varsity football team as its place kicker.

“I had the team’s and coach’s support, so I tried out for the team,” Robbins said. “I can’t say I wasn’t nervous trying out. It was the first time I ever attempted kicking a football and I had no idea what was going to happen. It has been a lot of fun and all the coaches and players support me.”

The Panther football team had not made or even attempted an extra point in years, but that all changed in their wins over Woonsocket and Coventry earlier in the season as Robbins has been perfect on all her extra point attempts.

“We have not had a place kicker in a while and it is good to have Bianca Robbins kick extra points for us,” said Johnston head football coach Joe Acciardo.

Robbins said that the people who influenced her the most are her parents. She said, “They have always been there from day one and always tell me at least try anything I have interest in.” She went on to say, “I have been very lucky to have played for a lot of different teams at all levels with a lot of great coaches and teammates.”

What can Robbins, who is considered one of the most versatile athletes in JHS history, do to top all that she has already achieved in her athletic career?

“Two-hundred goals is the next milestone I have set for myself,” she stated. “It would really be tough to do, but I love challenges.”