AURORA | Hammer Time was nearly a decade in the making for the Eaglecrest boys lacrosse team.
For eight straight seasons, the Raptors watched archrival Smoky Hill hoist The Hammer traveling trophy — a sledgehammer featuring both schools’ logos — and continue to swing the rivalry in one direction.
The scene was much different Wednesday night at Legacy Stadium, as junior Jordan Oliver’s goal with 4.2 seconds left lifted Eaglecrest to a 3-2 victory over the Buffaloes on a windy, chilly, defensive-minded night to get The Hammer back for the first time since 2006.
Oliver scored twice and Perry Schwinger also tallied and goalie Evrett Shaw and his defense rose to the occasion for the Raptors, who improved to 7-2 overall and 1-1 in Centennial League play under new head coach Austin Lanpher.
Eaglecrest won eight games all of last season and has nearly matched it with five games to play.
Smoky Hill (3-4) had a chance to take the final shot of regulation, but a high pass sent a loose ball near midfield, where Eaglecrest’s Thomas Logan scooped it up before his team called a time out with 27.6 seconds left.
The Raptors milked most of the time off the clock before Oliver — who had just three goals coming into the game — got the ball out high, drove to the right side of the cage and whistled a shot that got past Smoky Hill goalie Evan Adams and into the net.
The Buffs led the game on two occasions in the first half, as Joe Whitmore put them ahead in the first period before Schwinger’s goal tied it up and Blubaugh gave Smoky Hill a brief edge in the second period until Oliver tied it up.
Eaglecrest’s defensive performance was especially impressive given Smoky Hill’s had scored in double digits in three of its past four games. In the context of the series, the two goals allowed by the Raptors were a far cry from what they typically have yielded to the Buffaloes, who had scored at least 11 goals in each of the eight previous meetings.
Note: Aurora’s only other traveling trophy in lacrosse is the Predators Cup, which debuted in the series between Grandview and Cherokee Trail last season. The Wolves won the trophy last season and will try to keep it when they play the Cougars on April 22.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
EAGLECREST 3, SMOKY HILL 2
Score by periods:
Smoky Hill 1 1 0 0 — 2
Eaglecrest 1 1 0 1 — 3
Eaglecrest goals: Jordan Oliver 2, Perry Schwinger; Smoky Hill goals: Hayden Blubaugh, Joe Whitmore
THE HAMMER RESULTS (2007-2015)
2015: Eaglecrest 3, Smoky Hill 2; 2014: Smoky Hill 11, Eaglecrest 3; 2013: Smoky Hill 18, Eaglecrest 7; 2012: Smoky Hill 17, Eaglecrest 3; 2011: Smoky Hill 19, Eaglecrest 7; 2010: Smoky Hill 16, Eaglecrest 3; 2009: Smoky Hill 17, Eaglecrest 1; 2008: Smoky Hill 17, Eaglecrest 1; 2007: Smoky Hill 11, Eaglecrest 4
