(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — It was Ryan Bergner who finally gave Kent Denver room to take a breath.
The freshman scored late in the fourth quarter to give the Sun Devils a two-goal lead against Castle View — which, in this Class 5A boys lacrosse quarterfinal, was monumental. And it ultimately proved to be enough as the No. 4 seed Kent held off No. 12 Castle View 18-16.
The game featured an astonishing 27 ties or lead changes, including 16 in the first half alone.
The two teams were tied a 6 after the first quarter, and Kent led 12-11 at halftime. Castle View took a 15-14 lead entering the fourth quarter, and then the teams traded goals in the first three minutes of the final frame.
It was a 16-15 Castle View lead at that point, but then Bergner tied the game with 6:49 remaining, and Charlie Highum delivered what proved to be the winner with a shot that caught the top right corner of the cage.
Bergner then gave the Sabercats a two-goal lead with 2:44 to play.
This is Kent Denver’s third-straight trip to the semifinals.
(1) Cherry Creek 11, (8) Rock Canyon 1
More photos. (Matt Minton)
Rock Canyon scored the game’s first goal, but Cherry Creek scored the final 11 en route to yet another semifinal appearance.
Cherry Creek has made the semifinals every year since 2001, a span of 15 seasons. In fact, since the sport was sanctioned in 1999, the Bruins have only failed to reach the semis one season, in 2000.
On Saturday, Maxwell Tennant led Cherry Creek with four goals, while Michael Morean and Griffin Gharrity each had a pair.
The Bruins led just 2-1 led in the first half, but Connor Till scored with 25 seconds left. It seemed deflating for Rock Canyon.
Cherry Creek then opened the third quarter with a goal from Gharrity 49 seconds in, and went on to score a total of seven goals in frame to make it 10-1.
Colton Jackson scored Rock Canyon’s lone goal.
(3) Mountain Vista 9, (11) Arapahoe 5
Mountain Vista moved to the semifinals for the first time in school history following its win over the Warriors.
Colin Munro lead the Golden Eagles with four goals, while Christian Barker added three. Bryan Hancock also scored twice.
Arapahoe was led by Brian Wilson and Tanner Sparks, who each had two goals. Chase Douglas also scored.
Find a complete recap of the game here.
(2) Regis Jesuit 11, (7) Monarch 9
Monarch kept inching back, but Regis Jesuit was able to hold off the Coyotes in the quarterfinals.
Regis led 10-5 after the third quarter, and then 11-6 early in the fourth, but Monarch was able to cut it to 11-9 with 1:02 remaining.
That was as close as they would get, though, as Regis moved to the semifinals for the eighth year in a row.
Regis was led by Matt Soran’s four goals, and Chet Dunstan scored three. Ben Bechter added a pair, and Truett Davis and Joey Chott also scored.
Monarch’s Max Wiesner led the Coyotes with four goals.
Semifinal matchups
Games are May 13 at Cherokee Trail HS. Times TBD. (Bracket)
- Cherry Creek vs. Kent Denver
- Mountain Vista vs. Regis Jesuit