(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
HIGHLANDS RANCH — Valor Christian is headed to the Class 4A boys lacrosse state title game after a narrow win over Air Academy in Wednesday’s semifinals.
Freshman Lance Tillman scored the game winner with 59 seconds remaining to give the Eagles (14-4 overall) a 15-13 win over the Kadets.
“It was the best feeling in the world, honestly,” Tillman said. “I was so happy for the all the hard work the team put in and for us to go out and get the win.”
But it was a fight to the very end.
Air Academy (11-7) couldn’t possess the ball the way they wanted to with the way that Eric Pacheco was controlling the face-offs for the Eagles, but they still managed to build a 7-4 lead in the second quarter.
Led by Grayson Goodyear and Cole Baker, Valor was able to fight back and take a 8-7 lead into halftime. Even after giving up the run, the Kadets didn’t feel phased.
“At halftime I just said ‘guys, we’re in this game. Don’t shut down now,'” John Mandico said. “And we didn’t. We turned it around; we turned the momentum.”
With the Eagles leading 11-8, senior attacker Jake Thornally scored three quick goals for the Kadets to tie the game. He led the Kadets with eight goals.
Valor was able to regain the lead twice, but Thornally always had the answer and seemed unstoppable at one point.
“Every time I got (the ball) on my stick, I wanted to pull the trigger,” Thornally said. “I was feeling it today, just connecting with my shots. I don’t know, you just get off on a tangent sometimes and feel like you can put on the back of the net and luckily I was able to do that today.”
With just under a minute left, Tillman scored to make a 14-13 game and the Kadets went into their last possession a man down due to a penalty. Thornally had the ball and during an attempt to kick it up to the point, the pass was intercepted. The Eagles were able to connected on more goal, sending them to Friday’s title game at Sports Authority Field.
“That team came. Wow,” Eagles coach John Grant Jr. said. “That was not the same team that we saw a month or so ago.”
The Eagles will see Dawson School in the championship game. In the regular season, the Mustangs beat the Eagles 14-11.
(1) Dawson 15, (5) Cheyenne Mountain 6
(Photo courtesy of Kris Roberts)
(Photo courtesy of Kris Roberts)
Jesse Rosenblatt scored five goals while Hunter and Wyatt Watts each connected on a hat trick to put the Dawson into the 4A boys lacrosse championship game.
Like in their regular season matchup, the Indians started strong by taking a 4-2 lead after the first quarter. But Dawson went on a huge offensive attack in the second, scoring eight goals and yielding nothing to Cheyenne Mountain.
Once the Mustangs had a strong 10-4 lead at the half, they were able to control the pace and keep the Indians dual scoring threat of Kai Case and August Johnson contained.
Dawson will see Valor Christian in the 4A title game. The Mustangs won the regular season showdown 14-11.