Mustangs knock Eagles from perch
Mullen handles previously undefeated Pine Creek 17-6; 'Stangs are within a half-game of the league lead; Hane leads way with 6 goals and Wanja stellar between the pipes.
They beat one of the three undefeated teams in the new league, they never relinquished the lead and they looked good doing it.
Indeed, Mullen boys lacrosse is gaining special relevance again.
On Friday night at Brother Bernard Kinneavy Field at De La Salle Stadium, the Mustangs controlled Pine Creek 17-6 on Senior Night as well as with a delayed start as the Eagles had problems coming up from Colorado Springs in legendary, end-of-work-week traffic.
In knocking the Eagles from the undefeated ranks – Pine Creek is 7-1 overall, 5-1 in the Class 5A No. 1 League – Mullen boosted its mark to 6-1, 4-0, a half-game behind Lewis-Palmer (8-0, 5-0). It also was the Mustangs’ sixth victory in a row, all by double figures, since getting pummeled in their opener to Monarch. And it sets up perfectly for the Mustangs as they will take on the Rangers in Monument on Wednesday, June 9, 6 p.m., at Don Breese Stadium.
“A good win against an undefeated team,” a pleased Mustangs head coach Matt Cawley said. “We won every quarter and we had to have that.”
True. Mullen opened with a 4-2 edge, built it to 10-4 at halftime and 13-5 through three quarters. It was content to trade goals with the Eagles.
Offensively, the Mustangs had a combination of spreading it around and having their main threats dominate the scoring. Brandon Hane threw in six goals to take over the team lead at 19. The consistent Keegan Quinn contributed three, and Nicky Bond and Chris Bougie two apiece. Adam Archibald, Trevor Price, Luke Dempsey and Ethan Karr also scored to offer variety and depth.
Defensively is where Cawley said his team excelled, notably Lance Hart and keeper Noah Wanja, as the Mustangs lost 25-of-27 faceoffs.
“It was Lance’s best game of the season so far and Noah played out of his mind,” the coach said.
Wanja turned in 13 saves and protected the lead.
”I felt confident off the bat, had a good warmup and my hands felt quick,” the junior said. “I was loose.”
Certainly, he said, playing with the lead gives him “a drive mentally, so if I let a goal in I know it’s part of the game ... I gave up six goals against an undefeated team and I’m happy about that.”
Wanja knows there’s lots of work to be done, but “I feel we’re reaching our peak and it will carry through the playoffs.”
On a pleasant Colorado evening that contained excitement in Southwest Denver, Cawley called it “a special night, a really special night.”
MULLEN 17, PINE CREEK 6
Pine Creek 2 2 1 1 -- 6
Mullen 4 6 3 4 -- 17
Mullen goals – Brandon Hane 6, Keegan Quinn 3, Nicky Bond 2, Chris Bougie 2, Adam Archibald, Trevor Price, Luke Dempsey, Ethan Karr.
Mullen assists – Keegan Quinn 2, Chris Bougie, Nicky Bond, Brandon Hane.
Mullen saves – Noah Wanja 13.
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