There have been very few surprises so far in the 2025 boys lacrosse postseason.
The top seeds in the brackets for both Class 5A and 4A have proven immune to upsets, and that held true in this week’s state quarterfinals. Each of the top four seeds in the field for both classifications punched its ticket into Saturday’s state semifinal round at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on the University of Denver campus.
On Tuesday it was Aspen, Dakota Ridge, Evergreen and Air Academy rolling into the 4A semis. On Wednesday night, Cherry Creek, Arapahoe, Valor Christian and Colorado Academy followed suit. Valor is the defending state champion, defeating the Warriors in the 2024 title game. Those two teams will meet again in Saturday’s final matchup.
All four semifinals will go at DU on Saturday, with the state title games taking place Monday. Here is a quick look at the remaining teams in the field:
Class 5A
Semifinals:
Saturday, May 17: Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, University of Denver
No. 1 Cherry Creek (17-0) vs. No. 4 Colorado Academy (14-3), 3 p.m.
No. 2 Arapahoe (15-2) vs. No. 3 Valor Christian (15-2), 5:30 p.m.
Championship:
Monday, May 19 @ 7:30 p.m.
Notes: Cherry Creek aced its first two postseason tests, downing Denver South 19-4 in the second round and taking out Regis Jesuit 14-6 on Wednesday night. Ollie Nolting’s three goals and six assists sparked the rout of South. The Bruins were the No. 2 seed a year ago but fell to the Raiders in the quarterfinals. … Colorado Academy will get another shot against Creek on Saturday. The two teams met up April 29, with the Bruins winning that contest 10-6. The Mustangs defeated Chatfield 16-6 in the second round, with Teddy Hardy going for three goals and four assists. The squad followed that up with 9-4 victory over No. 12 Poudre School District on Wednesday. The Stars had upset No. 5 Ralston Valley in the second round, limiting the Mustangs to only two goals. … Defending state champion Valor Christian has yet to lose to an in-state opponent in 2025, pouring in a combined 31 goals in playoff victories over Rock Canyon and Denver East. Juniors Blake Ham and Christian Eframo and sophomore JT Cross each tallied four goals against the Jaguars in the second round. … Arapahoe’s only losses this season came to Cherry Creek and Colorado Academy. The team has won five in a row since the loss to the Mustangs, including Wednesday night’s 9-6 victory over Legend. The Titans had won nine of their previous 10 games, including upending No. 7 Fairview in the second round, but Arapahoe used four second quarter goals to get the Warriors back into the semis.
Class 4A
Semifinals:
Saturday, May 17 @ Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, University of Denver
No. 2 Dakota Ridge (15-2) vs. No. 3 Evergreen (15-2), 10 a.m.
No. 1 Aspen (16-0) vs. No. 4 Air Academy (15-1), 12:30 p.m.
Championship:
Monday, May 19 @ 5 p.m.
Notes: Of the four semifinalists, only Aspen has won a state championship (2015), though Air Academy (2022) and Evergreen (2021) were recent runners-up. … The Skiers maintained their bid for a perfect season with a 9-4 triumph over Steamboat Springs in the quarterfinals. Senior Landon Thurber scored five goals, and Treven Ward made 10 saves. The two teams had played just 12 days earlier, with the Sailors taking Aspen to overtime. … Air Academy’s only loss this season came to Cheyenne Mountain. The Kadets avenged that with a 10-9 victory in the second round, then dispatched No. 5 Resurrection Christian 15-9 in the quarters. Sophomores Andrew Neilson and Alex Sirois combined for 11 goals. … Dakota Ridge and Evergreen will meet for the second time this season. The Eagles, who rode a fast start to a 9-6 victory over Telluride on Tuesday, defeated the Cougars 14-10 back on April 17. Against the Miners, Landon Kalsbeck recorded three goals and Brody Spallone had a goal and three assists for the team’s ninth consecutive victory. … Evergreen has been just as hot since the loss to Dakota Ridge. The Cougars have won eight in a row, including a 16-6 victory over Foothills League foe Golden on Tuesday.
