DENVER — Coming up just short fueled the Erie boys lacrosse team all year.
The Tigers advanced to their first state championship game in program history in 2023, but were unable to bring home the title after suffering a heartbreaking loss in double overtime.
They've been waiting to avenge that defeat and finally have.
Erie returned to the Class 4A state title game against Northfield on Monday at DU, this time walking away with its first-ever championship with a 14-6 victory.
"All the returning players just hated that feeling," senior captain Charlie O'Brien said. "It just feels amazing to cement everybody's name in history at Erie High School."
O'Brien, Davis Mundy and University of Denver commit Liam Connors all recorded a hat trick for the Tigers with three goals apiece.
"It's soo cool because I've been coming here since I was 6," Connors said of winning at Peter Barton Stadium. "It's so cool to play on it. Especially after losing last year it just felt that much better."
Erie, the No. 1 seed in the playoff bracket, went 15-3 overall this season – ending on a nine-game winning streak in route to the championship.
Northfield made an impressive run as the No. 7 seed, finishing 15-4 as runner-up. Isaac Poppleton led the Nighthawks on Monday with two goals.
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