Frias scores eight goals, Aspen rolls

ASPEN — Ricky Frias and the Aspen lacrosse team gave Eaglecrest no time to catch its breath Saturday.

The senior scored three goals in the first four minutes - and finished with eight in the game - and he and running mate Charlie Olson, who picked up eight assists, led the Skiers to a convincing 17-10 victory.

"The boys came out and put their heart and hustle into the game from the first whistle," Aspen coach Mike Goerne said. "We got the lead, and we kept it."

Goerne admitted he didn't know what to expect when his team lined up against the Centennial school. Early on, however, it looked like the Raptors were the ones looking unsettled.

Frias and Olson connected one minute into the game on a perfectly-executed give-and-go. The duo, in what would become a familiar sight for Eaglecrest defenders, struck again two minutes later when Olson passed off to Frias from left of the net; Frias wound up and fired a sharp grounder into the bottom corner.

Frias took matters into his own hands and stick with 8 minutes, 11 seconds remaining in the first when he rifled through a host of Raptors, jumped to gain some separation and scored.

"After beating [Battle Mountain] by double digits in the snow, we didn't expect to lose to them [Thursday]," Frias said. "After that game, we wanted to come out and prove we're better than how we played."

Consider Saturday's performance validation.

Olson passed from behind the net to a streaking Frias for the score with 5:49 to play in the first to stretch the lead to 5-0. Aspen led, 5-1 after 12 minutes.

By the half, Frias had found the net five times, single-handedly outscoring Eaglecrest. He helped the Skiers stretch their lead to five midway through the second when, as the Raptors goalkeeper tried to smother a shot, Frias stole the ball, turned and scored. One minute later, Olson scored the first of his three goals after beating the defense up the field.

"Me and Charlie have been playing sports together since we were 4 or 5," Frias said. "We can read each other and communicate really well.

"It was definitely fun out there."

That fun was momentarily put on hold, however, as Eaglecrest mounted a comeback. The Raptors outscored Aspen, 3-1, in the final 3:41 of the first half, to pull to within four goals. They twice cut the deficit to three in the third quarter.

Eaglecrest's Mike Osborne scored on a pass in front, beating Aspen goalkeeper John Adams to pull to within 9-6. The Raptors looked to be heading in for another score 50 seconds later when they had possession and a one-man advantage. An errant pass in the offensive end, however, rolled out to midfield and the Skiers' Cole Kloster scooped it up; he then slashed through the defense for the score.

Osborne responded two minutes later, causing the Raptors' sideline to erupt. He and teammate Chris Jaster combined for seven goals.

The excitement was short-lived. Frias had the answer - and sparked an offensive outburst that ultimately buried Eaglecrest.

Frias scored twice in 38 seconds - both off assists from Kloster - and the Skiers connected four times in four minutes to take a 14-7 lead with 4:47 left in the third.

"We got caught in a few transition situations but that happens," Goerne said. "It's nicer to try and hold onto the lead than play catch-up."

Aspen's lead ballooned to as many as eight in the fourth quarter as it cruised to victory in its final home game.

"The midfield played incredible," Frias said. "The defense and goalie helped give the offense tons of chances."

"This is a new team every day," Goerne added. "They're absorbing the game so quickly. ... This is a great way to close things out at home."

jmaletz@aspentimes.com