Mead survives Windsor, set to play in first semifinals

Erie’s Charlie O’brien shoots while falling down against Telluride on Tuesday afternoon.

Whether Mead fans had to shake, rattle or roll their cowbells and thunder sticks, the constant noise created an electric playoff atmosphere Tuesday night at Mead High School.

In the Class 4A state quarterfinals between the No. 4-seeded Mavericks (16-2) and No. 5 Windsor

(11-6-1) — the latter coming off a state runner-up season in 2022 — Mavericks fans were eager to see more history for a program that has already had a memorable postseason run.

Even with a 1-hour, 14-minute lightning delay, they saw it as the Mavericks won 1-0 to reach their first semifinals in program history. It was also the first time in 13 games all-time that Mead took down Windsor.

“At the beginning of the season, this was one of the teams

ERIE >> Waiting for what you desire — somewhat counterintuitive to the whole mortality thing. Moses wandering the desert in Egypt, Jim waiting on Pam in “The Office”, it can be like walking on a fresh blister.

But if you ask the guys part of the title-minded lacrosse program at Erie High School, they’ll tell you that there hasn’t so much been angst trying to get back to the state semifinals after being bounced there the last two where we said ‘we’re not gonna be scared of them’,” junior goalkeeper Bella Wright said. “Having this tonight shows how much everyone cares about it and how everyone really wants this program to go far.”

The goal came in the 42nd minute just on the other side of halftime, as sophomore Lexi Van Dyke received a pass and dribbled past a few defenders. She was able to get her shot off and placed it into the bottom lefthand corner at the far post. The seasons by Cheyenne Mountain.

“It’s been fun,” Erie senior Ryan Burns clarified. “The wait is just part of the process.”

Though, it has been motivation.

“Every year we’ve gained knowledge with our loss in the semifinal,” coach Nick Mandia said. “Each time we go deep into the playoffs, we learn a little bit … They’re all champing at the bit to apply those lessons that they’ve learned.”

At the school’s turf field in Tuesday afternoon’s Class 4A quarterfinals, the No. 2 Tigers strike, which gave the Mavericks the 1-0 lead, sent the home fans into a frenzy, cowbells and all.

“It was pretty cool and I got really excited,” Van Dyke said.

“She’s our secret outside back goal-scoring weapon,” Wright chimed in. “She had the goal against Windsor in the regular season, too.”

The play was indicative of a first half in which the Mavericks ended with more momentum than they did to open the game.

In the first 15 minutes, Mead had to weather a few chances from Windsor, as Wright had a pair of big saves to keep it scoreless. The momentum swung in the 27th minute. After

Wright made a save far off of her line, she stayed out there but ultimately took down a Windsor attacker.

Ella Moody stepped up to the penalty spot and while she sent Wright the wrong way, her shot clanked off of the post. A few minutes later, Mead was able to create a few chances of its own as Madelyn Wright, with

the wind at her back, floated a few shots that Windsor goalkeeper Leah Bacon had to tip onto the crossbar to prevent it going in. Mead also had a half-chance that hit the crossbar on a setpiece off of a corner kick.

Knowing it held a lead, Mead bunkered in. Fiveat-the-back was how Mead held on against Thompson

Valley, and the same tactic rang true Tuesday.

“When you don’t have the goal scorer, it can punish you,” Windsor head coach Mike Lordemann said. “They made it tough for us after the rain and I wish them nothing but the best.”

Every ball that was cleared, a cowbell would sound and bleachers would

rattle. Even when four late set-piece chances came for the Wizards, the raucous crowd helped get the team over the line, including a late chance that was cleared off of the goal line by Mavericks freshman defender Elena Gomez. But when the full-time whistle sounded? Bedlam. And it’s only the quarterfinals.

“That was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of. … The support just shows the school and everyone how far this team can go and really believing in us in that sense,” Wright said.

The Mavericks will face off against top-seeded Lutheran in the semifinals on Thursday at Trailblazer Stadium.