(Connor Chase/RJ Media)
AURORA — The experience of the Regis Jesuit boys lacrosse team showed its force Wednesday night.
The Raiders, the defending Class 5A state champions, shook off an early deficit to defeat Mountain Vista 11-4 in the state semifinals at Legacy Stadium.
Regis, a perennial state power, will face familiar opponent and fellow state finals regular Cherry Creek in Friday’s championship game at 7:30 p.m. at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Cherry Creek defeated Regis Jesuit 8-4 a month ago during the regular season.
(Connor Chase/RJ Media)
Wednesday’s game marked Mountain Vista’s first-ever state semifinal appearance.
Regis overcame a 3-1 deficit, taking the lead on a pair of goals within eight seconds of each other late in the second period to grab a slim 4-3 halftime advantage.
The experience of the Raiders showed in the second half as they scored four goals, three by Chet Dunstan (two in a span of just six seconds), to take command 8-3 in the third period.
“We knew what we needed to do,” Dunstan said.
Of his three-goal splurge, “I felt like we needed the momentum,” he said.
The difference, Raiders coach Jim Soran said, was holding the Golden Eagles’ Christian Barker, Colin Munro and Bryan Hancock in check. The trio had scorecd 125 goals entering the game.
“Our defense today played outstanding,” Soran said.
As for the rematch with Cherry Creek, “I’m glad we did lose to them (during the regular season),” Dunstan said. “We have a lot of motivation,”
Squaring off against a traditional rival, Soran looks forward to the rematch.
“It’s fun,” he said of any game between the Raiders and the Bruins.