Aspen completes season sweep of Battle Mountain boys lacrosse

The Aspen boys lacrosse team is undefeated for a reason.

One week after taking down Battle Mountain 11-1 at home, the No. 3-ranked Skiers completed the season sweep of their 4A Western Slope rivals with a 14-5 win in Edwards on Saturday.

“Last year we went 0-2 on them so it’s been nice to reverse the roles there,” said Aspen goalie Treven Ward, who left in the fourth quarter with a 14-2 lead as seven different Skiers scored goals. “We played really solid. Our defense has been great all year – it’s been our backbone – and then our offense has just started to convert and it’s helping us win.”

“I mean they’re a good team,” Battle Mountain coach Pat Doherty said after his team dropped its fourth-straight game. “They have a lot of experience and one of the best goalies in the state.”

Andrew Palmaz scored 45 seconds in and Gavin Terry’s quick stick from just outside the 12-meter fan off a beautiful dish from Henry Denis made it 2-0 before the Huskies even got a possession. Aspen tacked on two more goals to end the period with a 4-0 lead. Carter Shonk willed a bouncer past Ward with 8:09 left in the second to put the Huskies on the board, but Landon Thurber responded nine seconds later, squeezing a grounder past Jordan Jimenez to make it 5-1.

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Shonk said the plan coming in was to find open spaces against Aspen’s notorious zone and ideally, keep it a low-scoring affair.

“It was kind of just find the right time, don’t force anything,” said Shonk, who ended with a team-high three goals and had another taken away for leaving the penalty box too early. The Skiers — who have allowed just 22 goals in the 7-0 start to the season — packed it in and forced shots from the outside all afternoon.

“We’ve got to figure out a way — if we see them again — to get those shots on the inside,” Doherty said. “Because Treven is going to make those outside saves 9 out of 10 times.”

The Huskies were able to find some momentum late in the fourth quarter. In addition to Shonk’s hat trick goal, Keelan Losa found the back of the net twice on freshman Jacob Barrow in the final minutes.

“I think our offense moved better than we did last Saturday,” Shonk said. “We’re definitely improving but I think one thing we need to work on is becoming a first-half team instead of popping off in the second half and fourth quarter.”

Battle Mountain (4-5) will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday at home against Vail Mountain School. The Huskies defeated the Gore Rangers 7-4 in their first match on March 27.

“We just have to stay positive. Remember that being on the field, being a family and having a good time playing lacrosse is what it’s all about,” Doherty said. “Yeah, we’re on a skid right now, but we’ve got to work through it and I think we will. We showed a lot there in the fourth quarter. It was good to see the guys not quit and we need to build on that.”

Aspen (7-0 overall, 5-0 league) travels to Fruita Monument on Tuesday before returning to Eagle County to face the Devils on Wednesday. After finishing 9-8 last year and 10-6 in 2023, Ward said the “brotherhood” forged over four years has enabled this class to push the team to a new level. The senior, who plans to play in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association next year, has high expectations for the rest of the year.

“I think we’re all hoping for a state championship,” he continued. “The boys are bonding and we’re looking really good. I’m excited to see what happens.”