Note: For more photos from Flip Dalfonso, click here.

It’s been quite the week for Kent Denver’s boys lacrosse team.

The Sun Devils are hoping the same holds true at this time next week.

In the span of the past eight days, Kent Denver has posted victories over Class 5A ranked opponents in Arapahoe and Denver South, an upset of 4A No. 2 Erie, and rallied to hold off an upstart Cherokee Trail team. The Sun Devils climbed into the rankings of the CHSAANow.com Coaches Poll at No. 8 after reeling off six consecutive victories.

What’s up next? Just a date with No. 7 Colorado Academy on Thursday, followed by a showdown with Cherry Creek next Tuesday that could potentially decide the League 4 champion.

A three-game losing streak to close out March had Kent Denver (8-3, 3-0) reeling a bit, but the Sun Devils turned it around. Goalie Sam Kosloski stopped 14 of 17 shots in a 5-3 victory over Arapahoe on April 11, and after Cherokee Trail scored seven third-period goals to take the lead Thursday, Kent rallied with three goals in the fourth for a 14-12 victory. Oliver Thomas notched four goals and Cade Oxley and Christopher Eislein had three goals and three assists apiece.

Eislein had four goals and seven assists in a 16-9 victory over Erie on Saturday, with Oxley and Ben Dutton adding four goals each. Finally, the Sun Devils held off a rally from No. 6 South on Tuesday night for an 11-10 victory.

Cherry Creek (10-0, 3-0) is tied with Kent for first in the league standings. The top-ranked Bruins routed South 17-4 on April 11 behind three goals and three assists from Owen Burke, a goal and four assists from Ollie Nolting, and four goals from Gus Blue. Brody Fisher tallied five goals in a 17-10 victory over Denver East last Friday, with Burke scoring four goals and Nolting going for two goals and five assists.

Legend, Valor Christian, Regis Jesuit and Mountain Vista round out the rest of 5A top five, though Valor’s 13-6 victory over previously unbeaten Legend should alter the rankings next week.

In the 4A classification, Cheyenne Mountain remains in the top spot after a top-10 victory over Evergreen. Erie is still No. 2, followed by Dakota Ridge, Northfield and Air Academy.

Here is a quick look at the state’s two classifications headed into the final two weeks of April:

 

Class 5A

Regis Jesuit is in the midst of a very impressive eight-game win streak that has included victories over Arapahoe, Kent Denver, Colorado Academy and Mountain Vista.

The Raiders (8-1, 3-0 in League 3) will see that streak put to the test this week. Regis Jesuit visits No. 2 Legend on Saturday, and No. 3 Valor Christian next Tuesday.

Valor Christian (10-1, 4-0) has won five in a row since its loss to top-ranked Cherry Creek. The Eagles’ victory over Legend was perhaps its biggest of the season. In a 17-3 victory over then-No. 10 Castle View last Thursday, Rush LaSelle had four goals and an assist and Baden Brown assisted on five goals and added two of his own.

Colorado Academy (7-3, 2-1 in League 4) bounced back from a loss to Arapahoe with an overtime victory over Denver South.

Class 4A

The Foothills League gets rolling with league play this week. Third-ranked Dakota Ridge vists No. 9 Evergreen on Thursday, with two teams just on the outside of the top 10 – Golden and Green Mountain – facing off Friday.

Both the Rams and Demons recorded big victories last week. The Rams (6-3) upset then-No. 4 Dawson School 14-9, with Kole Stratman pacing the team with four goals and an assist, and Bohdam Tabor stopping 13 shots.

Golden (5-4) handed current sixth-ranked Lutheran its first loss, 11-4. Jack Howard had four goals and an assist, and Paul Lillis made seven saves.

Lutheran (5-2) dropped a second game to No. 4 Northfield, 9-7. Asher Poppleton scored four goals. The Lions host No. 5 Air Academy on Friday.

Cheyenne Mountain (6-3) downed Evergreen last Thursday. Stefan Dingbaum (three goals, two assists), Wyatt Furda (three goals) and Matty Kelleher (nine saves) paced the Red-Tailed Hawks.

The Cougars (3-4) will have their hands full with a Dakota Ridge (8-2) squad that has won seven in a row. Tyler Read exploded for six goals and two assists in the Eagles’ 20-11 victory over Lakewood last Friday.

Air Academy (4-3, 1-0 in 4A Southern) downed Ponderosa 14-5 on Monday in the league opener. Lucas Obringer’s 10 points (five goals and five assists) led the Kadets.