The boys lacrosse program at Erie High School is headed to the state championship game for the first time in the program’s five years in varsity.
Liam Connors scored five times and Charlie O’Brien had four goals as the No. 2 Tigers beat No. 3 Dakota Ridge 14-9 on Saturday at Peter Barton Stadium, on the campus of the University of Denver.
Erie will face two-time defending champ and No. 1 seed Cheyenne Mountain Monday at 5 p.m. back at DU.
“Feels great to have earned an opportunity to play for the championship,” coach Nick Mandia said. “I think we did some things well, and we have a few things to clean up before we hit the field on Monday. I’m proud of our players and our staff and excited for the next step.”
The Red-Tailed Hawks have won four of the five all-time meetings, including beating the Tigers in the previous two semifinals rounds.
Most recently, the teams met in the regular-season finale at Tiger Stadium as the Red-Tailed Hawks pulled away late, holding Erie scoreless over the last 15 minutes and 48 seconds.
Asked Mandia about what the team took away from that meeting with Cheyenne Mountain after its quarterfinals win over Telluride Tuesday, he said: “It was awesome that it was the last game of the season. It was a good measuring stick for us.”
Kevin Papa scored five times in the Red-Tailed Hawks’ 10-7 win over Evergreen in the earlier semifinal.
Cheyenne Mountain is looking to win its fourth lacrosse title since 2018.
