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 Dakota Ridge lacrosse sees light at the end of the tunnel. - Bruce Coffman
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Sunday, November 06, 2011 By Cole Coffman
The always talented Mullen gave Dakota a reminder why they remain a top team in many sports annually with a 5-3 win. Dakota still played admirably and came over a large deficit in an attempt to give their coach some bragging rights against his old team.
“ We played pretty well in the second half,” explains freshman Brandon Meyer, “It just wasn’t enough, but we’ll get better.”
After trailing Mullen 0-3 at halftime, coach Thumin chewed the team out for the first time. He told the team to put some effort into ground balls. Coach Thumin complained, “When the ball is on the ground and we have three or four guys against one, how are we not gaining possession?! I need to see a lot more effort out of you guys”
Dakota Ridge answered firmly with an explosion of offense. Dakota put up three unanswered goals. Coach Thumin knew Mullen was losing hope, he was very familiar with the team atmosphere on their end.
The only thing that could contain the offense was the time, and unfortunately Dakota Ridge ran out of it. Although they lost, close losses against Arapaho and Mullen are giving this team some confidence.
Patrick Nytes, sophomore, said “I think we all had an off game, but we really stuggled with our defense and we could have hustled more, but after half-time we pulled it together...It was a close game.”
Coach Thumin described his plan for Dakota Ridge at a mandatory meeting earlier in the week. He said, “I want Dakota Ridge to mimic Arapaho in Littleton, you know? I want anyone who is any good at lacrosse to know that Dakota Ridge is the place to be instead of Chatfield or Columbine.”
Coach Thumin likes that we have such a young team. Thumin feels that after a couple years of 4A and no varsity for the first season, the team will be ready to make a run at State.
Patrick Nyte continues on the youth subject by saying, “I think [our youth] is beneficial because we work together and we remind each other that we are a team and we represent D-ridge.”
This team is quickly becoming a hot topic, so all Dakota Ridge fans should keep an eye on this team.
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