Freshman attacker Lance Tillman snatched a clearing attempt from Dawson goalkeeper Chad Dunnell at point-blank range late in the fourth quarter and buried it to give the Valor Christian boys lacrosse team a 10-9 victory in the Class 4A state championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Friday night.
Tillman hovered in front of Dunnell with just over two minutes left after the senior goalkeeper got back on his feet after a save. As Dunnell reared back, Tillman raised his stick as high as it would go and the ball found its pocket. The eventual winning goal was past Dunnell before he could react.
Tillman’s goal, which broke a 9-9 tie that lasted almost 3½ minutes, gave the Eagles redemption after losing the title game to Aspen 17-12 last season.
Tillman’s game-winner was his third goal of the game and second of the quarter as neither team led by more than one goal.
