Seven goal quarter lifts Sun Devils to lax title

Brad Byler, Special to the Rocky

Published May 17, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.
Updated May 17, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.

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Coming from behind had been part of the Fort Collins boys lacrosse team’s formula for success in the playoffs this season.

But there was no comeback ending for the 2007 state champions on Saturday. Kent Denver buried the Vipers with a seven-goal third quarter to claim the state title at Invesco Field 15-6.

The match was close only at the outset. Henry Miketa put Fort Collins (15-6) on the board first with a goal just over a minute into the contest, but the Sun Devils scored the next five to jump on the Vipers 5-2 after the first quarter. At halftime the Sun Devils lead was 7-4, but Kent Denver ripped the Vipers defense in the second half to put the finishing touches on an unbeaten season.

“Nobody would have expected a nine-goal win, and we’ll take it,” said Patrick Murray, the Rocky Mountain News championship game MVP after scoring five goals and adding an assist. “I couldn’t be more thrilled right now.”

The game between the two teams earlier this season gave no indication of a lopsided victory in Saturday’s state title game. Kent Denver (18-0) had won that game 6-0, but the Vipers had held the Sun Devils to its lowest scoring output of the season. But Kent Denver’s immensely talented squad had been ratcheting up its performances throughout the playoffs, notching blowout win after blowout win, and Saturday’s third quarter seemed to be the culmination of their efforts.

Just 40 seconds into the second half attacker Moses Taylor whipped the ball into the net to give Kent Denver an 8-4 lead and touch off a scoring frenzy for the Sun Devils. By the end of Kent’s seven-goal quarter, they held an insurmountable 14-4 lead.

“I think coming out in the third quarter with that goal right away was huge for us,” Murray said. “I think that may have been the turning point right there.”

“Offensively we controlled the ball for most of the third quarter which took the wind out of their sails,” Taylor said. “After that we didn’t look back.”

Fort Collins had come back from deficits in the quarterfinals and the semifinals to put itself in place to defend its state title, which the Vipers won by beating Kent Denver last year. Even trailing 7-4 at halftime the Vipers felt they could come back, until the defensive meltdown in the third quarter.

“That third quarter was a disaster,” Fort Collins coach Carey Smith said. “They got us on a few things and we were getting a little tired and we weren’t getting our slides and then we just lost our composure a little bit.”

Murray scored two of his goals from the 8-12 yard range, winding up and unleashing his powerful shot all the way to the back of the Vipers net. When the Vipers would concentrate their efforts on Murray and fellow midfielder Michael Reilly, Taylor and the Sun Devils attackers would penetrate and strike from close range.

“I felt like they were sliding really early and our middies were drawing the doubles and looking down low for our attackmen to get open,” said Taylor, who will play for Colorado College next year. “We were able to finish on the goalie back side.”

Kent Denver had lost by a single goal to the Vipers in the title game last season, but Kent Denver coach Tom Graesser said the revenge card never had to be played to motivate his team.

“I think the kids learned last year what it took,” he said. “The fact is we got better every game, and it was because of the senior leadership on this team. I’ve been here four years, and the senior leadership is the best I’ve seen.”

The state title is Kent Denver’s first in boys lacrosse since winning back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004.

Fort Collins… 2 2 0 2 -- 6

Kent Denver… 5 2 7 1 -- 15

FC, Henry Miketa 3-0, Tyler Whitcomb 0-3, Erik Page 1-0, Eric Newman 1-0, Greg Rushing 1-0; KD, Patrick Murray 5-1, Moses Taylor 4-1, David Hanley 2-2, Frazier Cavness 2-2, Willie Strazza 1-2, B.J. Smith 1-0, Michael Reilly 0-1, Derrik Flahive 0-1.

Saves – FC (Jackson Nye) 6; KD (Lucien Reichert) 6.

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