After back-to-back losses put a damper on what has been a standout season thus far, Dakota Ridge’s boys lacrosse team needed a bounce-back performance.

Enter Tyler Read.

The Eagles senior scored eight goals last Friday in an offensive outburst that saw Dakota Ridge roll to a 21-10 victory over Windsor. Five other players had at least two goals as the Eagles put a season-high in points on the scoreboard.

A follow-up victory over Monday over Huntington Beach has Dakota Ridge (8-2) set for its Foothills League opener against league rival – and new Class 4A No. 1 – Evergreen on Thursday. The Cougars (7-1) have won seven in a row since a season-opening setback to Fairview, and are coming off a 17-goal performance Monday in a victory over Thompson Valley. Senior William Wales had six goals and two assists in that contest.

Evergreen handed Telluride its only loss earlier this season, and also defeated another current top-10 team in Resurrection Christian. Both teams still have No. 6 Golden on the schedule this month as well.

The Foothills opener is a rematch of a 4A second-round playoff contest last May, with Dakota Ridge winning that one 9-8 before falling to eventual champion Erie.

Here is a quick look at the rest of the state the headed into the halfway point of April:

Class 5A

Cherry Creek remained unbeaten in 2025 and showed the rest of 5A that the Bruins aren’t intimidated by anyone last Wednesday, rolling to a 15-8 victory over No. 3 Arapahoe. Cherry Creek (10-0, 3-0 in League 4) notched six goals in the second and fourth quarters, with Shane Minisini, Wyatt Branish and Benji Davoll each scoring three goals. The Bruins’ next test comes April 16 against fifth-ranked Denver East. … No. 4 Colorado Academy took down Dakota Ridge in non-conference play, getting five goals and two assists from Teddy Hardy in a 13-7 victory. The Mustangs (7-2, 2-0 in League 4) downed Grandview 13-11 two days later. … Ralston Valley (8-1, 3-0 in League 2) have won six in a row, three of which came in the past week. The Mustangs travel to Erie on April 16. … Fairview (6-2, 2-1 in League 2) survived another nail-biter with an 11-10 victory over Chatfield thanks to a three-goal rally in the fourth. … No. 2 Valor Christian dropped only its second game of the season to an out-of-state opponent, falling 9-7 to St. Anthony’s (NY). … No. 7 Mountain Vista and No. 9 Regis Jesuit meet up Thursday in League 3 play, trying to keep pace with Valor. The Raiders turn around and face the Eagles on April 22.

Air Academy and Aspen kept its perfect marks intact with another solid week. Air Academy (10-0, 2-0 in Southern) scored a combined 30 goals in victories over Smoky Hill and Lutheran, with Alex Sirois going off for seven goals against the Buffs and five more against the Lions. … The third-ranked Skiers (8-0, 6-0 in Western) put up 14 goals against both Battle Mountain and No. 9 Fruita Monument. A massive matchup with No. 5 Telluride awaits April 22. … Ninth-ranked Pueblo West received a combined 11 goals from Logan Stapleton and Justin Maurello in a shutout of Palmer. On Tuesday night, it was Brayden Wilson’s turn, going for six goals and six assists in a 19-4 triumph over Denver North. The Cyclones (10-2, 5-0 in Metro) have a big non-conference clash with 5A No. 5 Denver East on Saturday.