5A Boys Lacrosse: Cherry Creek Wins First State Title Since 2019

DENVER – The Cherry Creek boys lacrosse team has added another state title to it’s state-leading total.

On Monday at the University of Denver’s Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, the top-seeded Bruins (19-0) came from behind to win 11-8 over No. 3 Valor Christian (16-3) in the Class 5A title game and claim the program’s eighth championship.

“Four years I’ve been on this team and I think we’ve had a great team all four years,” Bruins senior Ollie Nolting said. “I think we’ve battled and we haven’t made it this far. I knew that once we made it this far and once that time came, it was our ballgame.”

Cherry Creek’s most recent title didn’t start off promisingly.

Valor Christian, the defending state champion, scored twice in the first 20 seconds of the game to take an early 2-0 lead. Cherry Creek, however, responded with three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead after the first quarter.

The second quarter belonged to the Valor Christian Eagles, who outscored the Bruins 4-1 to take a 6-4 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Bruins held the Eagles to just two goals while taking the lead on the strength of a 7-0 run and playing stout defense down the stretch to seal the victory.

“We knew it was going to be a dog fight and I think we had the team to do it,” Nolting said. “We went out there and we battled our hearts out and we left everything on the field. We were down by two but I was not worried at all. I knew we were going to come back and we were going to put up a fight.

“It happens to all teams. You get down and you have to get back up. You have to get that moment up. You have to get a goal or a big turnover. And then it just turns into a ballgame.”

Sophomore Wyatt Branish led Cherry Creek with three goals.

Valor Christian’s JT Cross had three goals for the Eagles.

This year’s title is Cherry Creek’s first since 2019.

Valor Christian is sixth all-time with three boys lacrosse state titles.