COLORADO SPRINGS — May the Schwarz be with you.
Lewis-Palmer goalie Brent Schwarz was feeling it on Friday night. The Rangers’ sophomore let in a goal just 59 seconds into their semifinal game against Ralston Valley then proceeded to stop the next 32 shots he faced.
His brilliant performance in net propelled the Rangers to a 4-1 victory at the World Arena and into today’s state championship game against Regis at 2:30 p.m.
“I don’t know, I haven’t played tomorrow yet,” said Schwarz when asked if that was the best game he had played all season. “This game is over now, and we are all business about Regis tomorrow.”
Lewis-Palmer (19-3), the only team to beat Ralston Valley (19-2-1) this year, was the last team to beat Regis in January of 2008. Regis (21-0-1), unbeaten in 35 games since that loss, has skated to two one-goal victories over Lewis-Palmer since, including last month’s third-period come-from-behind win.
“We threw that one away,” senior forward Greg Bryant said. “We’re going to go home and not be able to sleep. Be thinking about it. We want another crack at them, we want some payback.”
With Schwarz “in the zone,” according to Bryant, the Rangers’ offense was opportunistic to say the least.
Lewis-Palmer’s Kyle Lee was in the right place at the right time for the Rangers’ first goal. When everybody was looking for the loose puck sitting next to Mustang goalie Adam Lucas’ stick side, including Lucas, Lee just needed to get a stick on the puck to poke it home.
The Rangers took the lead for good midway through the first on Riley Budd’s hard-working goal in front. After cycling down low between Joey Fillo and Tyler Rigg, Budd was on the receiving end in front of a stunned Lucas.
The usually potent Ralston Valley offense had no answer for Schwarz.
The Mustangs had breakaways sticked aside, and even when Schwarz gave them a second opportunity by not corraling the initial shot he turned away rebounds.
Lewis-Palmer 2 1 1 — 4
Ralston Valley 1 0 0 — 1
First period — RV: Newman (Hoover), :59; LP: Lee (unassisted), 3:02; LP: Budd (Fleming, Rigg), 6:11. Penalties — Roseboro, LP (holding), 9:55.
Second period — LP: Bryant (Fillo, Lachner), 3:01. Penalties — Kanai, RV (goalie interference), 8:39; Spinder, RV (cross-checking), 15:00.
Third period — LP: Bryant (Cogburn) 12:59 pp. Penalties — Roseboro, LP (holding), 7:30; Newman, RV (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:12; Hoover, RV (high-sticking), 12:12; Smith, RV (hooking), 13:32; Jones, RV (tripping), 13:46; Fisher, LP (tripping), 13:46; Greene, RV (boarding), 14:45.
Shots on goal — Lewis-Palmer 11-6-7 — 24; Ralston Valley 12-11-10 — 33. Saves — Lewis-Palmer (Schwarz) 11-11-10 — 32; Ralston Valley (Lucas) 9-5-6 — 20. Power-play opportunites — Lewis-Palmer 1-for-7; Ralston Valley 0-for-2.
