Scoring is aplenty this season in the first rounds of the state
championship high school boys lacrosse playoffs. The usual cast of
characters etched out their place in the bracket, while a couple of
newcomers looked to fight as long as they could.
Arapahoe
The returning state champions, Arapahoe entered this year’s
state showdown as its No. 1 seed and defeated Ponderosa in the
second round of action, having a bye from Round 1.
Against the Mustangs in a 15-6 final, Hunter Hall scored four
goals and assisted one. Greg Colosimo had three shots in the net.
Connor Ryan and Dylan Leary each scored two.
With the win, the Warriors advanced to the quarterfinals to face
No. 8 seed Fort Collins. Arapahoe beat the Lambkins 10-5 and
advanced to the semifinals round 7 p.m. May 19 at Englewood High
School in Englewood. Highlights from the Fort Collins game were not
reported.
Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, also had a bye from
the first round. In the second round, the Bruins defeated the No.
21 seeded Columbine Rebels 13-6.
Scott Hewitson had three goals against the Rebels and one
assist. Cody Olson put two in the net and assisted another. Hogan
Danneberg and Seyler Skudneski each walked away with two goals,
while Blake Cassidy finished with one goal and one assist.
With the win, the Bruins advanced to the quarterfinals to face
Mullen, the No. 7 seed, and beat the Mustangs 11-1. Kendall
Williams and Hewitson each had two goals and one assist for the
Bruins. Henri Halle also put two in the net. Goaltender Chris White
had six saves. With the win, the Bruins advanced to the semifinals
against Regis May 19 at Englewood High School in Englewood. Results
of the game were unavailable at press time.
Heritage
Heritage entered the state playoffs as the No. 15 seed and put
down a very scrappy Highlands Ranch No. 18 seed in the first round
of the bracket. The Eagles beat the Falcons 8-7. Against Ranch,
Mike Shandle scored three goals and assisted another. Chris
Cunningham scored once and assisted on two.
The Eagles’ playoff hopes didn’t live much longer than Round 2
however after taking a 9-4 loss at the hands of the No. 4 seed
Chatfield. Heritage highlights from the second-round game were not
reported.
Littleton
Littleton met with some bad luck in the first round of the state
playoffs. As the No. 12 seed, the Lions were defeated by the No.
21-seeded Rebels of Columbine by an 11-9 final. Despite having
beaten Columbine for their final game of the regular schedule,
Littleton was forced to call it a season.
Connor Kellogg scored five goals in the playoff meeting with the
Rebels. Ethan Quick assisted three goals and scored one of his own.
John Sauer, Dan Hurst and Michael Kramer each scored once.
