Balanced attack, chemistry has Angels girls lacrosse thriving

Walking off the field Saturday morning, it was safe to say that the Denver East girls lacrosse team had already put in a hard day's work.

Having played a game late Friday afternoon, the Angels arrived at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood for an 8:15 a.m. makeup game with Dakota Ridge (Littleton), and then followed that with another match against Green Mountain (Lakewood) on the same field.

Yet, seventh-ranked Denver East wasn't necessarily showing signs of fatigue after dispatching both the Eagles and Rams by a combined score of 44-9. The players were smiling and joking with each other and talking up Monday's showdown with Colorado Academy (Denver). The Angels won that one 15-10.

"I think the most important thing is that we just brought a lot of energy, especially since it was early in the morning," Denver East junior Shelby Parks said. "We all got together and pumped each other up, and that's what it takes."

Sure, winning leads to good vibes, but for the sixth-ranked Angels, there is something bigger at work this spring. The team is off to a 10-0 start after knocking off No. 8 Colorado Academy, and with new coaches Mallory Cleveland and Chris Romer sharing head duties, the team dynamic is clicking on all cylinders.

"I think the leadership has really stepped its game up," Cleveland said. "I think the energy and the trust has just really exceeded its level, and I think that's been a big part of our success so far."

Cleveland coached Denver East's junior varsity the previous two seasons before teaming up with Romer this spring. Players and coaches alike agree the change has made a difference.

"We work really well together. We're very different, so it's good to have both perspectives," Cleveland said of Romer. "I think (the girls) like it as well. They have two different personalities, so I think different girls mesh with different types of personalities. It really has helped them."

The fact that the Angels are a factor in girls lacrosse doesn't come as a surprise given that the program has qualified for the playoffs every year since 1999. Denver East advanced to the 2010 championship game before falling to Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village).

There aren't a lot of lacrosse programs representing Denver Public Schools, though, and the Angels have always taken pride in competing with the state's best.

"We're representing the DPS as one of the top teams," senior Julia Dudley said. "This year I would say we have the skill level as all those top teams like Centaurus, (Cherry) Creek and whatnot."

The Angels are averaging 18.2 goals per game, and the three-headed scoring machine of Dudley and juniors Parks and Sarah Nick continues to evolve into one of the state's best. The trio combined for 214 goals the previous two seasons, with Nick pouring in 57 a year ago. They have 105 goals through 10 games this spring, led by Dudley's 48.

Sophomore Alex Searles and freshmen Kate Burney and Thyra Hermann have also reached double-digits in goals scored; 17 players have scored at least once.

"We need to have depth in order to beat the best teams," Parks said. "Every one of our players on attack is a threat this year, which is so important and that's how we've come so far."

Parks and Nick both play club lacrosse for Team 180, as do the team's five freshmen. That extra experience has helped pay dividends when competing against teams who are loaded with club players.

Another element working in East's favor is the CityLax program, which serves as a feeder for the Angels. The inner-city program is all about developing the sport and is currently working with 53 schools in Denver.
Senior Jada Bonner, who attends George Washington and plays for Denver East, came to the Angels from CityLax.

"We come to play lacrosse at the end of the day," Bonner said. "So, it doesn't matter where we're from or where we've been, as long as we give it all on the field."

With only four games remaining in the regular season, the Angels realize the challenges that lie ahead. Top-ranked Centaurus, No. 6 Kent Denver and fifth-ranked Cherry Creek are still waiting, but what better way to get ready for the postseason?

"I think it will be tough on our bodies physically and tough mentally," Dudley said of the stretch run. "But I think it will help us prepare for playoffs. The intensity will push us to work harder and to improve a lot quicker and move in a positive direction."