Flurry of goals gives Valor Christian another 5A girls lacrosse title

DENVER – The Valor Christian girls lacrosse team won its second consecutive Class 5A state championship Friday night and just appears to be getting started.

The Colorado Academy dynasty that won nine consecutive Colorado state championship has come to an end and in its place have stepped the Eagles, who have won two straight and have all the momentum needed to continue going forward.

The repeat became complete with a 12-6 victory over second-seeded and parochial school rival Regis Jesuit in front of a raucous crowd at Peter Barton Stadium on the campus of the University of Colorado.

“Back-to-back state championships feels pretty good,” Valor Christian coach Sam Geiersbach said.

The Eagles — who finished 15-2 on the season with its only two losses coming out of start to IMG Academy and Sacred Heart Prep from California — won this title with a combination of experience as well as some talent that hints of future success.

Junior Gia Bigelow had a huge game for Valor Christian as she scored two goals, but the North Carolina commitment was devastating to the Raiders at key times with her ability to win draw controls and gain possession.

That coupled with an outstanding performance from a defense Geiersbach calls the backbone of the team made things difficult for long stretches for Regis Jesuit (15-4), which made the state final for the second time in three seasons. But the Raiders fought back in the third quarter and came all the way back from a 5-1 deficit to tie the game at 6-6 on a goal by sophomore Anna Hodges.

Junior Olivia LaSelle broke the tie in Valor Christian’s favor late in the third quarter and freshman McKinnley Clarkson — some of the young talent on the roster — added two of her game-high five goals as Valor Christian went on a 6-0 run to end the game and win another title.

“We were so motivated and the drive to feel this again kept us going,” Bigelow said.

Clarkson admitted it was intimidating to join a state championship-winning program as a freshman, but that the team had welcomed her and other younger players with open arms.

She had just 13 goals on the entire season, but came through with five in the biggest game of the season.

“Us freshmen, we’re going to carry this on in the future,” Clarkson said. “I think Valor will always have this culture and it will always be this way.”