Regis lacrosse gets momentum going into playoffs

Adam Dunivan, Special To The Rocky

Published April 28, 2007 at midnight

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AURORA - Having beaten Cherry Creek in the regular season last year, the Regis boys lacrosse team didn't look at a win against the second- ranked Bruins on Friday night as a monumental feat.

But for Greyson Konkel and the rest of the No. 4 Raiders, a 7-4 home win in the regular-season finale against the two-time champions certainly will be one to remember if the Raiders go on a strong playoff run.

"When we are firing on all cylinders we know we can match up with anybody," Konkel said after a dominating, three-goal performance. "It's awesome for us going into the playoffs. We established how good we can be (Friday night)."

After Konkel got Regis (13-2) on the board 39 seconds into the second quarter, the Raiders tallied four more in row. But Cherry Creek goalie Mark Stone made seven saves to keep it close.

Cherry Creek had several uncharacteristic mistakes that led directly to Regis goals. With 11:16 left in the third, the Bruins (10-3) missed out on a loose ball in front of their goal, and it popped right into Konkel's web before the Creek defense could react to make the score 4-2.

Regis extended its lead six minutes later off a Cherry Creek turnover deep in its own zone, which gave Garrett Fugier an easy goal from 12 feet out.

A late third-period score by Creek made it 5-3, but Konkel's third goal of the game tilted the momentum back toward the Regis sideline.

After losing to Arapahoe late, Konkel realized it was important to hold off a Creek team capable of a rally.

"One thing about this year's team is that when we lose like that, we get right back up, work 10 times harder to get it together," Konkel said.

The defensive unit for Regis also played one of its best games this season to earn the win. Cherry Creek had a few point-blank shots miss the net and a couple of more hit the post, but overall, the Bruins were forced to take pretty deep shots.

Troy Orzech registered seven saves, including two in the fourth that fired up his teammates.

"It was cool to see the defense really bust out," Orzech said.

Cherry Creek......2	0	1	1	-	4
Regis......0	3	2	2	-	7

Goals-assists - CC, Kyle Driver 2-0, Ryan Driver 1-0, Ryan Link 1-0, Rick Giancola 0-1, TJ McCauley 0-1; R, Greyson Konkel 3-0, Luke Strode 1-1, C.J. Schmidt 1-0, Garrett Fugier 1-0, Ross Hardin 1-0.

Shots on goal - CC 5-1-2-2 - 10; R 2-10-3-2 - 17. Goalie saves - CC, Mark Stone 2-7-1-0 - 10; R, Troy Orzech 3-1-1-2 - 7.

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