Ralston Valley boys lacrosse off to best start in program history

LAKEWOOD — A little rain Wednesday night didn’t put a damper on Ralston Valley’s boys lacrosse team extending the best start in the program’s history.

In fact, the Mustangs (6-0 record) scored a season-high goals in a 19-5 victory over Green Mountain at Trailblazer Stadium. 

“We have moved to a place where we feel good about the direction we are going and the things we want to accomplish,” Ralston Valley coach Steve Annest said. “We have a bunch of kids who have bought in and are doing the things to get better. The focus is what we need to do to get better every single day.”

Who is back and more importantly healthy is Ralston Valley junior Levi Rillos. The 3-sport athlete missed the Winter basketball season after breaking his collarbone in the Class 5A football state championship game.

“It’s great. I missed it,” Rillos said about being back on the athletic arena. “I missed the competitive aspect and I missed the team a lot too.”

Rillos poured in three goals against Green Mountain (2-4). The junior leads the Mustangs with 21 goals on the season and brings a physical mentality to the lacrosse field.

There are not many defenders who want to get in the way when Rillos comes charging toward the goal, including his coach.

“I got in his way today,” Annest could say with a smile about getting clipped by Rillos on the sideline. “He took me out on the sideline. Full speed Levi. It wasn’t pleasant.”

Annest was at the 5A football state championship game when Rillos suffered the injury, but he knew the junior would work hard to get back for lacrosse season.

“I was one of the first who knew he had broke it,” Annest said of Rillos suffering the injury in Fort Collins on Dec. 2, 2025. “I was there and talking with his Dad right at the moment that it happened. That was obviously a horrible deal, but he is such a tough kid. We knew he would be back.”

Ralston Valley is coming off a 13-3 season last spring where it won the program’s first league title. The Mustangs had a 10-game winning streak last season, but lost to league rival Poudre School District in the second round of the 5A state playoffs.

“We defintely want to win league,” Rillos said as the Mustangs begin conference play next week. “We have talked about it all year making the Final 4 and playing on DU’s turf. That’s the goal.”

Seniors Colby Kurtz, Jonathan Drake, along with juniors Jett Roussy, Max Bianco and Rillos all had multiple-goal games for the Mustangs against the Rams. 

“We just have to keep grinding and not get tired of it,” Rillos said about what it will take to make a deep playoff run this year. “Come to practice every day and searching for our ‘why’. One of our coaches told us at the beginning of the year to think about why you are doing this sport and bring that every day as your motivation.”

Ralston Valley has a huge test coming up next week. The Mustangs face Lakewood (5-0) at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, at the North Area Athletic Complex.

“I have great respect for Lakewood,” Annest said heading into the 5A League #2 opener for both the Mustangs and Tigers next week. “They are talented. They went to California and played some really tough teams. I know their coaching staff is going to have an amazing plan for us. It will be a really good battle.”