ENGLEWOOD | Losing by just a goal the first time they played, the Smoky Hill boys lacrosse team was confident going into its rematch with Mullen Tuesday night in the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
The 11th-seeded Buffaloes gave the sixth-seeded Mustangs another tight contest until the home team pulled away in the second half for an 11-5 victory at De La Salle Stadium.
Senior Blake Spencer and junior Blake Foerster scored two goals apiece for coach Preston Davis’ Smoky Hill team, which finished the season 11-5 overall. Wes Purinton scored the other goal for the Buffaloes, who made their second consecutive state playoff appearance.
Mullen (13-5), which got a hat trick from Austin Smith, swept both games with Smoky Hill on the season after posting a 9-8 victory April 12 when the teams met in Centennial League play.
The Mustangs advanced to the May 11 quarterfinals where it will play the winner of the matchup between 14th-seeded Highlands Ranch and No. 3 Regis Jesuit scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
(6) MULLEN 11, (11) SMOKY HILL 5
Score by periods:
Smoky Hill 3 1 0 1 — 5
Mullen 2 3 2 4 — 11
SCORING
First period — Smoky Hill: Blake Foerster; Smoky Hill: Blake Spencer; Smoky Hill: Foerster
Second period — Mullen: Brady Brehm; Mullen: Grant Alfred; Mullen: Nick Philips; Mullen: Austin Smith; Mullen: Brad Hale; Smoky Hill: Spencer
Third period — Mullen: Smith; Mullen: Philips (Brehm)
Fourth period — Smoky Hill: Wes Purinton; Mullen: Alec Mayhan (Freeman Payne); Mullen: Smith; Mullen: Alfred (Smith); Mullen: Payne
