Arvada West boys lacrosse makes history at NAAC

ARVADA — Arvada West sophomore Creighton Major played keep away to run out the final seconds to give the Wildcats a historic victory Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.

A-West hung on for a 7-6 win over Heritage in boys lacrosse action. It was the Wildcats’ first conference win for the program that is in its first season of varsity play.

“That was awesome,” A-West coach Derek Snyder said. “Our boys stepped up and played with a lot of heart. They kept their heads. It was a great game all around.”

A-West junior Cooper Greason put the Wildcats up 7-6 with 7 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The final 12 minutes was all about defense with both A-West (4-2 record, 1-1 in Class 5A League #1) and Heritage (2-5, 0-2) unable to find the back of the net.

Heritage did have a huge opportunity in the final 44 seconds. A-West was tagged with a pair of fouls that gave the Eagles a 2-minute advantage. However, the Eagles couldn’t get a shot past A-West junior goalie Jayden Bergstrom to send the game into overtime.

“He (Bergstrom) really stood on his head today,” Snyder said. “All the defense played great. We dominated on defense that second half.”

Heritage’s final scoring chance ended up with a turnover where Major was able to pick up the loose ball and run from midfield and behind Heritage’s goal to run out the clock.

“That last ten seconds,’ Major said of his most memorable moment during his 3-goal night.

Major led all scorers with a pair of goals in the first quarter that helped A-West to a 3-2 lead. Heritage actually took a 6-5 lead with three straight goals, but Major scored his hat-trick with 8:50 left in the third quarter to tie things up 6-6.

“He (Major) got himself a game ball,” Snyder said. “That was probably the best lacrosse that young man has played in a while. I’m very proud of him.’

Seniors Jaden Lawson, Mitchell See and Sterling Haid all had a goal each for the Wildcats, along with the eventual game-winning goal by Greason helped A-West to the history making night.

“It means a lot to me especially being the only sophomore on the (varsity) team,” Major said of the league win. “I wanted to help my team get this win. Overall I think we played really good.”

The Wildcats are back a NAAC on Monday, April 10, for a non-league game against Fairview. A-West gets back into league play against Prairie View on Wednesday, April 12, at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood.

“We expect to go to playoffs. We really do,” Snyder said.

A-West would either have to win the conference title or finish high enough in the RPI rankings to make the 24-team 5A state tournament.