Golden Eagles approach elite status with victory
First win vs. traditional power Kent is a milestone
MountainVista’s first-ever victory over Kent Denver in boys lacrosse certainly was sweet.
The Golden Eagles, in the first of three games Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High, took down the Sun Devils 12-8 and looked good doing it.
In moving to 10-2 overall with the nonleague victory, the Golden Eagles, ranked No. 6 in The Denver Post Class 5A poll, never trailed, responded when the No. 3 Sun Devils (9-2) entertained thoughts of a comeback and inched closer to joining the game’s elite in Colorado.
“It’s a pretty cool experience to be a part of this,” MountainVista coach Jake Herman said.
Junior midfielder Bryan Hancock was one of three Golden Eagles to score three goals — his coming in the fourth period, when they flirted with separation while also finding the ability towithstand anymove by Kent Denver.
“All of the guys have bonded so well, and we never backed down,” Hancock said.
Earlier this season, Mountain Vista fell 13-8 to Regis Jesuit. The Raiders, Arapahoe and Cherry Creek are the top three teams the Golden Eagles have yet to defeat.
“This is great to showwhatwe can do,” Herman said. “It’s a climb.”
Shane McKenna and Alec Womack also scored three goals for Mountain Vista. Christian Barker added two.
Kent Denver coach Ben Brenneman needed to look no further than his stat sheet. The Sun Devils had 23 turnovers.
“They took it to us. They played a great game,” he said of the Golden Eagles after Kent Denver’s first loss to an in-state team. “Bottom line, that’s just not winning lacrosse against any number of teams and certainly not one as talented asMountain Vista.”
Charlie Highum scored three times for Kent Denver.
Arapahoe and Cherry Creek played later Saturday before club teams Colorado State and Colorado met in the evening in a full day of lacrosse at the big stadium.
Mountain Vista will meet two DouglasCounty League foes over its final five games of the regular season. Kent Denver has a gauntlet — Foothills opponentRegis Jesuit, then defending state champion Arapahoe and Cherry Creek.