Dakota Ridge boys lacrosse’s Nick Scott helping to spark best season in program history
LAKEWOOD — Dakota Ridge senior Nick Scott went from stopping goals to scoring goals.
Scott was the starting goalie for the Eagles’ ice hockey team for three seasons. However he turns his attention to scoring goals for the Eagles’ boys lacrosse team during the spring.
Yes, Scott started his career in net when he started playing lacrosse. His position quickly changed his second year when he was a fifth-grader.
“I played goalie at first when I came to lacrosse. It was dumb,” Scott said with a laugh. “I want to get hit with a ball that hurts. I decided to change to scoring goals.”
Last season, Scott finished the season with a team-high 27 goals and 12 assists as a junior. This season, Scott has surpassed last year’s effort with one regular-season game left. He poured in three goals and four assists in the first half Friday night at Trailblazer Stadium in the Eagles’ dominating 16-1 victory over Bear Creek.
Scott and one of Dakota Ridge’s top goal scorer — Hannah Krats — on the Eagles’ girls lacrosse team actually have a bet this season. Whoever finishes with fewer goals at the end of the season has to take the other out to dinner. It looks like Scott will be buying in the end.
“I have no idea where I’m at,” Scott said of his goal and assist totals this season. “I’m kind of clueless. I just come out and play. She (Krats) is way ahead of me, that’s all I know.”
Krats will play lacrosse at Fresno State University next school year. The senior has 61 goals and 27 assists with one regular-season game remaining. Dakota Ridge (13-1, 6-1 in Jeffco League) is currently No. 7 in the CHSAANow.com girls lacrosse rankings.
Scott will be taking his talent to the college level and play lacrosse at Illinois Wesleyan next season.
“Nick has been awesome since I’ve got here,” Dakota Ridge’s first-year coach James Foote said. “He is the only senior attacker and to have his calm presence on the field is great for our young team. He leads by example. He has helped the whole transition of this program. I’m so happy to have him.”
There is a possibility that despite already attaining the best record in the program’s history, Dakota Ridge (12-2, 4-2 in Jeffco) might be left out of the postseason picture. Heading into Friday’s game against Bear Creek (0-12, 0-6) the Eagles were 17th in the RPI rankings. The top 16 teams make the postseason.
Dakota Ridge’s regular-season finale is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 1, at Trailblazer Stadium against rival Chatfield (4-9, 3-2). It’s almost a must-win situation for the Eagles.
“It’s going to come down to the wire,” Foote said. “Chatfield is going to be a massive game. It’s a rivalry game and they are in a similar situation with a new coach this year. It’s going to be a battle Monday.”
No matter what happens Monday, Scott is pleased how he has finished up his prep lacrosse career at Dakota Ridge.
“This year has been awesome, especially with our new coach,” Scott said. “He has really come in here and changed the program completely around. To have the best record in the program’s history is completely amazing. Even if we don’t make the playoffs, I feel like we (seniors) are going out on top.”
