Dakota Ridge boys lacrosse completes 3-peat

LAKEWOOD — Dakota Ridge boys lacrosse’s current 3-year run can officially be called a dynasty. 

The Eagles achieved one of their top priorities this season on Friday night at Trailblazer Stadium. Dakota Ridge defeated Green Mountain 16-5 to officially wrap up the Class 4A Foothills League title for the third straight year.

“It’s unbelievable. We have been working so hard for so many consecutive years,” Dakota Ridge senior defender Sam Callas said. “With the great leadership of Coach Dak we’ve been able to pull it off. It’s just so satisfying to hold that trophy.”

The Eagles hold a 14-0 conference record over their three straight league titles. Dakota Ridge hasn’t lost a league game since moving down a classification in 2023.

“It’s great. It is a lot of hard work that these young men have put in,” Dakota Ridge coach Dak Riecke said of the 3-peat. “We have put so much time in the film room. We mentally prepare. We physically prepare. It means a lot to these young men for what they come out and do in this league.”

The Foothills League has some good depth this season. The top four teams — Dakota Ridge, Evergreen, Golden and Green Mountain — are all in the top-12 of the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index used to seed the Class 4A state tournament.

Evergreen (10-2, 3-1 in league) will finish runner-up to Dakota Ridge (12-2, 4-0). The Cougars hammered Golden 18-4 on Friday night up at the North Area Athletic Complex. The Eagles handed Evergreen a 14-10 loss last week that ended up deciding the conference champion.

“It means everything,” Dakota Ridge senior goalie Zac Hearn said after the Eagles took a group picture with the conference title plaque. “Getting Coach Dak a 3-peat is huge.”

Hearn and Dakota Ridge’s defense led the way Friday against Green Mountain. The Eagles dominated taking a 11-1 lead into halftime. Hearn gave up only one goal through three quarters before junior Isaac McGrew took over in net with the Eagles holding a 14-1 lead going into the fourth quarter.

“It really helps to have a strong defense that has good chemistry,” Callas said as the Eagles held Green Mountain to a single goal through the first three quarters.

The Rams did put four goals in as Riecke emptied his bench in the fourth quarter. Jonas Swanson, Tristan Watts, Ryan Beckman, Bridger Day and Nico Sena all scored a goal each for Green Mountain.

Dakota Ridge had four players score multiple goals. Senior Tyler Read and junior Brody Spallone led the way with four goals each. Senior Nolan Hartman had three goals and fellow senior Joey Weingardt finished with a pair of goals.

Dakota Ridge wraps up its regular-season schedule at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at Conifer High School. The Lobos (4-8, 0-4) are currently on a 5-game losing streak.

“We aren’t going to take any games for granted,” Callas said of the league finale at Conifer next week. “We are going to stay prepared and ready. We are going to keep working harder every day.”

Dakota Ridge will likely grab the No. 1 seed for the 24-team state tournament. The Eagles were the No. 8 seed a year ago and gave No. 1 seed and eventual state champion Erie its best game of the playoffs. The Tigers escaped with a 16-11 victory in the quarterfinals.

“It’s not done. There is still something that has to be accomplished,” Riecke said of the different feeling to the previous two league titles. “We don’t talk about it much, but we have unfinished business and we are here to take it.”

In 2023, the Eagles were the No. 3 seed and made it to the semifinals before losing to Erie.

“The goal is stay health, stay on top of things, play one game at a time and get better throughout the week,” Hearn said of the focus getting ready for the 24-team state tournament that will begin for the Eagles likely on May 9.

The top-8 seeds will get first-round byes. Seeds 9 to 24 will play first-round games on May 6.

“A ranking is a ranking,” Riecke said of the No. 1 seed. “To us it’s playoffs. It’s win or go home.”

Green Mountain (6-5, 2-2) has a busy final week of the regular season. The Rams play four games in five days. Green Mountain has its league finale against Golden (8-5, 2-2) on Wednesday, April 30, at Trailblazer Stadium before the Rams have non-league games May 1 and 2.