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Aspen boys lax beats Steamboat in target game

Dale Strode
The Aspen Times

The Skiers had targeted this game from the beginning of the season.

“We knew it would be a big game for both teams because we both had nine weeks to prepare for this,” Aspen boys lacrosse head coach Mike Goerne said Saturday after the Skiers won the target showdown 16-13 in Steamboat Springs.

“It was really what we had hoped for. We knew it would be tough.”



The teams played to a cautious 2-2 tie in the first quarter.

The offense for Aspen took hold in the second quarter with a 9-4 lead.




But Steamboat answered as the Skiers suffered a string of penalties.

The Sailors closed to 9-7.

“Steamboat attacked and did a great job,” Goerne said as the teams headed toward the fourth quarter with the Skiers up 11-10.

“In the fourth quarter, we found our groove scoring,” he said. The lead grew to 14-10, finishing at 16-13.

Tyler Tick paced the balanced Aspen offense with six goals and three assists.

Teammate John Heaphey, out of the midfield also potted six goals with three assists as the Skiers improved to 13-2 overall, 8-1 in conference play.

“Jordy Cottrell played amazing in the net,” Goerne said. “He had some incredible stops.”

Harry Ferguson had four assists and a goal in the Aspen win.

Teammate Ryan Ferguson scored three times and had two assists.

The win at Steamboat sent the Mountain League into a three-way tie — Aspen, Battle Mountain and Steamboat Springs.

All three teams share identical 13-2 overall records and 8-1 conference marks.

The conference tiebreaker for boys lacrosse will have Battle Mountain No. 1 based on its win over Aspen and goals-against in games among the three teams at the top.

Aspen, because of its high-scoring win over Steamboat, will be No. 2 with Steamboat at No. 3.

Statewide lacrosse seedings will be announced Monday in Denver.

The Aspen boys likely will host a home playoff game Tuesday or Wednesday.

dstrode@aspentimes.com