Lakewood boys lacrosse keeps playo hopes alive

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAKEWOOD — It’s that time of the season when checking the CHSAA RPI rankings is a daily routine for boys lacrosse coaches that are on the playo bubble.

at is the case for Lakewood coach Darin Denton. e Tigers are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to making the 24team Class 5A state tournament.

“It is crazy to think that a team like this with so much talent could possibly miss the playo s,” Denton said. “But that is the situation we are in. We’ll try to get in and make a splash when we get there.” e win moved Lakewood for No. 27 in RPI to No. 25.

A huge 10-9 victory for the Tigers (5-8, 2-3 in 5A League #2) over rival Chat eld (7-6, 2-3) on April 26 at Trailblazer Stadium edged Lakewood a little closer to a coveted postseason spot.

“ is was de nitely a must-win game,’ Lakewood senior Luke Brunner said. “We dropped the last few games by one or two goals. is was a must-win.” e Tigers were on a 4-game losing streak prior to the win over the Chargers. Lakewood’s pervious three losses were by ve combined goals. Neither Lakewood or Chat eld had more than a 2-goal lead during the entire game Wednesday night.

“Finally. Finally,” Denton said of the Tigers winning a close game. “It’s all we’ve been talking about. Trying to get over that little hump. We kept on coming up a little bit short.”

Brunner — Bucknell University men’s lacrosse commit — carried the Tigers o ensively early. e senior scored Lakewood’s rst four goals in the opening half. He nished with a game-high ve goals. Senior Cooper Penoyer actually gave the Tigers its rst lead 5-4 with the nal goal of the rst half.

“Cooper has really come up clutch,” Brunner said. “He has taken on that other scoring role. It has been huge for us.”

Penoyer put in two key fourquarter goals, including the eventual game-winning goal with 3:41 left in the game.

“Cooper has really come on for us in the last four games,” Denton said. “Not just on the eld, but o the eld too. He has been a great leader and he keeps the other’s spirits up when they get down.”

Lakewood sophomore goalie Ethan Branscom made a big save in the closing minutes to keep the Tigers up a goal.

“ at poor kid has got thrown into a lot,” Denton said of his sophomore goalie. “He has risen to the occasion. We weren’t sure if he had it in him, but he did. He is living up to the expectations. It’s awesome.”

Chat eld took a pair of penalties in the nal few minutes that allowed Lakewood to keep possession and run out the clock.

“Part of it is fun. Part of it is worry and stress,” Brunner said of him playing keep-away in the nal minute behind the Charger goal for nearly 40 seconds while being chased by multiple Chat eld players. “You especially don’t want to turn it over right there.” e Chargers face rival Columbine on May 3 at Trailblazer Stadium before heading up to Fort Collins to face Poudre on May 5.

Lakewood has two conference games remaining this week. e Tigers face Ralston Valley on May 1 at Trailblazer Stadium before a road trip to square o against Monarch on May 5.

Chat eld is still in pretty good shape to make the postseason. e Chargers were No. 18 in RPI after a victory April 28 against Fairview. Chat eld juniors Michael Ga ney and Dominic Hollenkamp both had two goals each to lead the Chargers in the loss against Lakewood.