Golden boys lacrosse headed to Class 4A state semifinals
ARVADA — Golden’s boys lacrosse team has successfully turned back time.
A dominating 12-4 victory for the No. 4-seeded Demons against No. 5 Steamboat Springs on Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex punched Golden’s ticket to the Class 4A boys lacrosse state semifinals. It’s the Demons’ first trip back to the state semifinals in 13 years.
“I’m just so proud to get us back to where we were,” Golden coach Mike Thumim said. “The last time this program was in the Final 4 was 2005 and this group did it. We knew we had the balance and the talent. It just needed to come together.”
Golden (14-3 record) would like to take it one step further than that 2005 team that lost to eventual state champion Cherry Creek in the semifinals when there was just one classification of boys lacrosse. The Demons face top-seed Dawson School (16-1) in the 4A semifinals Wednesday, May 16, in Lafayette.
Dawson defeated two-time defending state champion Valor Christian 12-9 on Friday night in another quarterfinal.
“We are really excited. They (Dawson) has been a powerhouse in Colorado for so long,” said Golden senior Will Abbey of Dawson, 4A state runner-up the past two seasons. “We kind of feel like we are overlooked when we are compared to them and Valor. We need to go prove ourselves that we belong here too.”
Steamboat Springs (12-5) gave an early indication it belonged in the quarterfinals with junior Kieran Hahn scoring in the opening minute to give the Sailors an early 1-0 lead. However, it was all Golden from there on out.
The Demons scored seven straight goals to push their lead to 7-1 at halftime.
“Once we get scoring the team just gets hyped,” said Golden junior Brady desGarennes, who finished with a team-high four goals.
Abbey (two goals) and senior Taven Brewer (three goals) had multiple goal games for the Demons. Senior Heath Maddox, junior Joe Brock and sophomore Garrett Landmark had a goal each to give Golden plenty of scoring balance.
It was the ninth straight victory for the Demons.
“After spring break we realized we were playing as individuals,” Abbey said. “We all came together and we are all brothers now. We are playing as a team. We bring the energy, feed off each other and we are rolling. We’ve got to keep this going.”
Thumim knows facing the Mustangs will be a tall challenge.
“They have the best player in the state in Gavyn Pure,” Thumim said. “I think we are going to have to make it a midfield game. We’ll see what happens. It will be fun. One more win away from playing at Mile High.”
The Golden versus Dawson semifinal got a little more important with the fact that No. 2 Thompson Valley and No. 3 Battle Mountain were both upset in their quarterfinals. No. 7 Cheyenne Mountain and No. 6 Aspen will play in the other semifinal Wednesday.
“With Thompson Valley out, it looks like the (state) winner is going to come from our side of the bracket,” desGarennes said. “Dawson is a big game Wednesday, but I think we have what it takes. We play with heart. We don’t play selfish. I think we have this.”
Wheat Ridge is the only Jeffco Public School to have ever won a boys lacrosse state title. The Farmers won the 4A title back in 2013.
“We are peaking at the perfect time,” desGarennes said. “This is our opportunity. This year is our shot.”
