YOUR AD HERE »

Huskies, Devils take high school titles at Lax Jam

Ian Cropp
Vail, CO Colorado
Special to the DailyA Battle Mountain defender looks to collect a ground ball ahead of two Durango players Saturday at the Vail Lax Jam in Edwards.
ALL |

EDWARDS ” All Robert Daino wanted was for his team to beat Durango.

“We could have lost all the games, but if we beat Durango, we would have come ahead,” said Daino, the Battle Mountain lacrosse coach.

After losing to Durango on the road earlier this season, 8-4, Battle Mountain looked to even things up on its home turf this weekend at the Vail Lax Jam.



The Huskies came through, beating Durango, 4-2, on Saturday.

And all those other games?

Support Local Journalism



They won those, too.

Battle Mountain went 3-0 in pool play, then beat Grand Junction in the finals Sunday, 5-3, to take the title.

“This was our first real big test,” Daino said. “It was some good competition.”

The Huskies started off the tournament beating Aspen, 5-3, on Saturday. In its first game Sunday, Battle Mountain fell behind against Windsor, 2-0, but stormed back late in the game.

“We were down until the middle of the second half, and we came back to beat them,” Daino said.

In the running-time, two half format, goals came at more of a premium than the normal four-quarter games.

“We were down until the middle of the second half, and we came back to beat them,” Daino said.

In the running-time, two-half format, goals came at more of a premium than the normal four-quarter games.

“It could be anybody’s (to win),” Daino said. “If you get up by a goal, you could sit on the clock and win.”

Spencer Curry, a freshman, led the Huskies between the pipes, while Barrett Chow, Todd Walker and Bryan Daino netted a few goals. Ryan Hedrick scored a pair of goals against Durango, while Eric Davis also scored.

When the county rivals met on Saturday, Battle Mountain’s girls edged Eagle Valley, 7-6.

But on Sunday, when they met again in the finals, the Devils had a bit of an advantage.

Eagle Valley came from behind to beat Telluride in overtime, 6-4 Sunday afternoon, then had only 20 minutes to rest before the finals.

“We were so energized and intense during the Telluride game, that we carried that on the championships game,” said Devils’ coach Sarah Resch. “It’s the best lacrosse we’ve played in the two years since I started the team.

“We put everything together and our goalies (Jessa Giarratamo and Amber Baker) and defense stepped up to the plate. Our attack was making passes and getting goals.”

The Devils won, 8-2.

After losing to the Huskies on Saturday, Eagle Valley beat Aspen, which set up a Sunday matchup with Telluride to see who would advance to the finals.

Stephanie Renzelman stepped up for the Devils against Telluride, netting two goals in five minutes to send the game into a five-minute overtime.

Alissa Hollis and Ashley Windsor ” an eight-grader ” each had two goals against Battle Mountain in the finals.

The rivals play again Thursday at Buckhorn Valley at 6 p.m.

Sports Writer Ian Cropp can be reached at 748-2935 or icropp@vaildaily.com.


Support Local Journalism