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Cherry Creek scores impressive lacrosse win at Invesco

The Rocky

Published April 18, 2008 at 11:41 p.m.
Updated April 18, 2008 at 11:41 p.m.

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The Cherry Creek boys lacrosse team can rise to the occasion. Several weeks ago the Bruins beat a Loyola-Blakefield team out of Maryland that was ranked No. 1 in the nation in a preseason poll conducted by Inside Lacrosse Magazine, and Friday at Invesco Field the Bruins again displayed their ability to beat the best by dominating Fort Collins 7-4 in a non-league game.

Fort Collins, ranked No. 1 by the Rocky and the defending state champion, led 3-2 at halftime, and the Vipers rugged defense seemed to have its way at times with the Bruins attack. But Cherry Creek’s Michael Beimford, a junior attacker, sparked Cherry Creek to a 5-0 run in the second half to help the Bruins to the upset.

Working from behind the Vipers net, Beimford flipped a pass to Hamilton Blair with 7:12 remaining in the third quarter, and Blair scored from the right side to cut the Vipers lead to 4-3. The two Bruins connected again two minutes later, and Blair’s goal tied the game at 4-4.

Beimford struck again with 3:12 remaining in the third, helping the Bruins take the lead for good by setting Bryan Price up for a goal with another behind-the-net pass. Cherry Creek took a 6-4 lead into the fourth quarter, and held Fort Collins (9-2) scoreless in the final 12 minutes.

“We just slowed it down and played patient,” said Beimford, who also scored a goal in the first half. “We were always playing hard, but we played smart in the second half and went on a run. It’s all about playing smart.”

The Vipers defense, led by Navy-bound defender Jay Darling, had shoved the Bruins around in the first half. But Cherry Creek never lost its confidence. The Bruins tested the Vipers, then found seams that it could expose.

“We’re a strong enough offense that we can take any defense,” Beimford said. “We showed that against Loyola on Spring Break. But it all came down to being smart with the ball. It’s just mental toughness that we have to worry about now.”

Cherry Creek will take the momentum of beating Colorado’s top-ranked team into Centennial League play, where they finish off with a tough schedule against Smoky Hill, Mullen and Boulder.

The earlier game at Invesco was a high-scoring affair, with No. 3 Kent Denver easily handling No. 5 Denver East 18-11 in a Southern League matchup.

The victory should give the Sun Devils (11-2) the league title and top seed for the postseason if they take care of business in the final weeks.

The Sun Devils jumped on East (9-2) early and didn’t let up behind the scoring of Frazier Cavness (five goals, four assists) and Moses Taylor (four goals, four assists).

“We got out to a 6-2 lead in the first quarter which really helped us get the momentum going,” Taylor said.

Kent Denver outscored the Angels in every quarter except the fourth, when Sun Devils coach Tom Graesser put reserves in.

Coupled with a victory over Cherry Creek on April 15, the Sun Devils seem to be peaking with the playoffs looming.

“We’re really at the climax of our season right now,” Taylor said. “We just have to keep it going.”

The victory helps to chase last year’s memories of a loss in the final game. The Sun Devils lost to Fort Collins in the state championship at Invesco to end the season last year.

“Playing at Invesco is kind of nerve-racking,” Cavness said. “We lost in the state finals here last year and we wanted some redemption, but playing in a stadium like this is a really cool experience.”

Kent Denver will play Fort Collins on Wednesday.

Denver East… 2 4 1 4 -- 11

Kent Denver… 6 6 4 2 -- 18

East (goals-assists) – Robby Nichols 4-1, Dave Swarsen 2-0, Rye Finegan 2-1, Jamie Urbana 2-1, Brendan Lamare 1-0.

KD – Frazier Cavness 5-4, Moses Taylor 4-4, Derrik Flanive 3-1, Patrick Murray 2-1, Mike Reilly 1-1, Walker Pride 1-0, Will Horne 1-0, Willy Strazza 1-2.

Saves – East (Richie Londey) 16; KD (Lucien Reichert) 6 (Jake Stroud) 2.

Cherry Creek… 1 1 4 1 -- 7

Fort Collins… 0 3 1 0 -- 4

Cherry Creek – Hamilton Blair 2-0, Michael Beimford 1-3, Nick Bailey 1-0, Rick Giancola 1-0, Bryan Price 1-0, Nick Gillam 1-0.

FC – Eric Newman 2-0, Brian Leistikow 1-0, Henry Miketa 1-0.

Saves – CC (Jeff Barton) 8; FC (Jackson Nye) 5.

Comments

  • April 19, 2008

    8:15 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    darkhaha writes:

    You have Kent Denver's record listed at 11-2, but I believe that is incorrect. Your team listings have some incorrect scores for Kent Denver boys varsity lacrosse. They did not lose to Lewis-Palmer, and they did not lose to Denver East 5-4 on April 16, as they did not play them until April 18 in a game they won 18-11, as your most recent story indicates.