Aspen High boys lacrosse tops Grand Junction
The Aspen Times
Jeremy Wallace / The Aspen Times |
The Aspen High School boys lacrosse team closed the regular season Wednesday with a quick-strike 13-4 victory over visiting Grand Junction.
“It was a good game for us. We got off to a great start,” said Aspen interim head coach David Miller after the Skiers improved to 7-2 in the Mountain League, 8-6 overall.
The victory also secured the Skiers’ position in the Mountain League playoff game on Saturday. Aspen will take on Battle Mountain on the Huskies’ home field in Edwards at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Senior Jonathan Wells led the Skiers on senior day with a game-high five goals to go along with three assists.
“He played great as he always does,” Miller said of Wells, who had led the Skiers to a key 11-3 win over Fruita Monument on Tuesday night.
Henry Godfrey, another of the honored Aspen seniors, scored four goals.
“He played a very heads-up game,” Miller said.
Yet another senior, Burke Daily, scored twice with two more assists.
“Burke was all over the field,” Miller said. “It was like he was twins today.”
Rennie Tucker had 10 saves in goal for Aspen.
“Three of those were spectacular saves,” Miller said. “He was in a zone.”
Miller also credited the faceoff work of Keaton Young, who won 15 of 19 draws for the Skiers.
The Aspen defense, Miller said, was stellar once again after limiting Fruita Monument to only three goals on Tuesday.
Miller said the team offered a special tribute to the seniors.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the adversity they have gone through this year,” Miller said. “They’ve gone through everything with class, dignity and respect.”
Grand Junction moved to 4-9 overall, 2-6 in league play.
The winner of Saturday’s Mountain League showdown at Battle Mountain — either Aspen or Battle Mountain – will advance to the Class 4A state playoffs and the field of 16 playoff teams.
The Skiers played at Battle Mountain in the second game of the season, falling 6-2 to the Huskies (7-7 overall, 6-2 in conference).
