It’s easy to see that top-ranked Mullen can hold its own with any team when it comes to scoring goals. The Mustangs scored 14 or more in each of their first six wins. But the Mustangs are just as tough on defense. That point was proven Saturday at the University of Denver’s Barton Stadium.
Coach Mitch Brin’s squad consistently denied Regis Jesuit on Saturday afternoon — one time thwarting a 6-on-3 Raiders assault midway through the fourth quarter in a 7-5 boys lacrosse victory.
Junior midfielder Erik Smith and sophomore attacker Austin Schacht scored two goals each, but it was Mullen’s defense that was the real story. The centerpiece was goalie James Standley. The Mullen senior recorded 13 saves, including a denial of Dan McGann from point-blank range just as time expired in the first half.
“We knew we had to play strong defense. . . . We knew that we had to step it up,” Standley said. “We knew if we got everything down we’d only give them outside shots. They got a couple inside, but I was reading them well.”
While C.J. Schmidt managed to break through with Regis’ third goal with 1 minute, 18 seconds left in the first half, the Raiders couldn’t score more than one goal in the fourth quarter.
With Mullen leading 7-4, the Mustangs were called for three consecutive infractions in a 41-second span. The final one with 7:03 remaining in regulation gave Regis a 6-on-3 advantage. But after Standley stopped Jon Law, any last chance the Raiders had of making it a game evaporated.
The Mustangs (7-2), who also got goals from Jonas Kurronen, Nick Ahrens and Tyler Ankarlo to end a two-game slide, had practiced the 6-on-3 penalty kill. Little did they know that they would have to use it in a game situation.
“Yeah, unfortunately we did,” Brin said. “We had some tough calls against us, and we had to respond. They take a lot of pride being put in a situation where the odds were really stacked against them, and they came up huge.”
Standley had a lot of help in the senior-laden defensive backfield, especially from Evan Potter, Tim Miaskiewicz and Curtis Delmonico. It was their play that helped hold Regis at bay in a turnover-filled third period and in the fourth.
Regis did score a fifth goal, this one from Steve Brown with 2:42 left, but it couldn’t find the net again.
“We never did get a good rhythm on offense, but part of that is their good defensive play,” Regis coach Jim Soran said. “James Standley in goal was very good. We had four one-on-ones with him and I don’t think we nailed any of them. So he played extremely well. Their defense today was aggressive, extended out on us, keeping us out of a groove.”
The seventh-ranked Raiders (6-4), who saw a two-game winning streak halted, also received goals from Taylor Herda, Chris O’Neill and Law.
Regis 1 2 1 1 — 5
Mullen 4 2 1 0 — 7
Goals — M: Schacht 2, Smith 2, Kurronen, Ahrens, Ankarlo; R: Herda, O’Neill, Schmidt, Law, Brown.
Assists — M: Kurronen, George; R: Schmidt, Gabrielson.
Shots — Regis 23; Mullen 19. Saves — Regis (Poletto) 11; Mullen (Standley) 13. Penalties — Regis 2; Mullen 10. Groundballs — Regis 13; Mullen 26.
