A host of Wheat Ridge players converge on Dawson senior Colin Petersen on Friday night at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — Dawson and Wheat Ridge boys lacrosse teams would love to see each other again, preferably on May 19 at Mile High Stadium.
Dawson, No. 1 in the latest CHSAANow.com Class 4A boys lacrosse rankings, and Wheat Ridge, No. 9 in the 5A poll, couldn’t meet each other with a state title on the line playing in different classifications. Still, the Mustangs and Farmers are determined to be playing in that final day of the 4A and 5A state tournaments.
“The goal is always to get a state championship, but our No. 1 goal right now is to make it into playoffs,” Wheat Ridge’s leading goal scorer Zach Hall said after the Farmers defeated Dawson 11-7 in a non-league game Friday night at Trailblazer Stadium.
Dawson, a private school located in Boulder County, had to settle for the 4A state runner-up trophy losing to Valor Christian in the title game last season.
Wheat Ridge’s Ryan Middle (11) attempts to wheel around Dawson’s Asher Walker. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Wheat Ridge won the 4A title in 2013 and followed that up with a state runner-up finish in 2014 before making the jump to 5A in 2015. The Farmers have had strong regular seasons the past two years, but have been bounced out of the 5A state tournament in the opening round the past two years.
“Dawson, 4A or 5A doesn’t matter, they are tough,” Wheat Ridge coach Chris Knott said. “We were in their shoes a couple of years ago before we moved up to 5A. They have solid athletes. Gavyn Pure is the real deal and so is Kyle Sudol on face-offs.”
The Mustangs (5-1 overall) grabbed an early 2-0 in the first quarter before Wheat Ridge (6-2) got going offensively. Hall ended a 4-0 run through the end of the first quarter and into the second quarter to give the Farmers a 4-2 lead.
“We start off slow almost every game,” admitted Hall, who had five goals in the win to push his season total to 13 goals on the season. “It’s something we’ve got to fix.”
Dawson tied things up at 4-4 early in the third quarter with back-to-back goals from Hunter Watts and Ernie Quintana, but the Farmers responded again with another 4-0 run led by Hall. The senior scored three straight goals to put the game away.
Dawson’s Hunter Watts (23) wards off Wheat Ridge’s Trey Sayers. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Offensively this year I think he (Hall) feels it’s his team,” Knott said. “It’s his opportunity to lead and go out big. When he feels the pressure he puts it on his shoulders. He rose to the occasion tonight.”
Defensively, the Farmers were impressive holding Dawson to a season-low seven goals. Senior goalie Nolan Hector picked up the victory in net for Wheat Ridge.
“We pride ourselves on holding teams under 10 goals every game,” Hector said. “It feels great to keep our offense in it and get them the ball. In the end it’s all about getting the win and that’s what we did.”
Wheat Ridge would love to get a win at Mile High Stadium to close out the Knott’s coaching career with the Farmers. After 14 years at Wheat Ridge, Knott has already announced he we step down after this season.
“There is no pressure. I love doing this,” Knott said of his final year coaching the Farmers. “It’s about the kids and creating an opportunity for them. Would I love going out winning a state championship? Of course. Who wouldn’t? If these kids put it together they can do.”
Hall agreed that there isn’t any extra pressure for Knott’s final season at the helm.
“It’s just pride,” Hall said. “We want to do it for him (Knott) and make his last year the best it can be.”
Wheat Ridge opens 5A Front Range League play against Rocky Mountain in Fort Collins on Friday, April 14. The Mustangs get back into their 4A Pikes Peak League play at George Washington on Thursday, April 13.
Wheat Ridge and Dawson both of aspirations to have deep postseason runs this boys lacrosse season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)