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'Runners lacrosse tricks opposition, treats team to Halloween tourney win
By Candace Pacheco
cpache17@mscd.edu

Metro’s lacrosse team enjoyed a classic sports-movie ending twice Oct. 28 as they sealed the Trick or Treat Lacrosse Shootout tournament with a first-place finish at the Five Star Stadium in Thornton.

In both nail-biters – the championship game against the Crybaby Sally Lacrosse Club and the other against the University of Northern Colorado – Metro found themselves one goal down with the clock ticking away.

Fighting for first, Metro was down 4-3 to Sally with six minutes left in the game. They were able to pull out three goals down the stretch for the 6-4 win.

“Greg Martinez pulled a hat-trick game winner,” coach Drew DeMarie said. Martinez also snagged MVP of the tournament.

A.J. Martinez, Harrison Lapierre and Mike Rommet each had one goal and one assist. Rommet made a behind-the-back throw at the net to tie the game.

Was this déjà vu? Two hours earlier, Metro had been in the same situation against UNC.
In the second half, both teams struggled to get a goal and Metro was down 4-2. A.J. Martinez then made a strong move to put Metro on the scoreboard in the second half.

Any hope for Metro to move onto the winners bracket seemed to be coming to a close, with the team down 4-3 with a minute and a half left in the game. With seconds left Ethan Heritage slammed in a goal that forced overtime.

Neither team scored in that first overtime.

With two minutes left in the second overtime, Romett got a good look and crashed the net to score, giving Metro a 5-4 win. During regulation he had missed a goal that would have tied the game.

“I couldn’t believe I missed that goal,” he said.

UNC forced a defensive battle. To pull out the win, Metro had to muster all they had.

“We weren’t getting off ball cuts, so nobody was getting open off the ball,” Rommet said. “They have a solid defense and really good offense, and their keeper came up with some key saves.”

That wasn’t the case when Metro played Western State in the first round of the tournament, holding them to four goals overall and only one in the second half. Metro won easily, 14-4.
Martinez had a game-high five goals and Nate Hammond stepped up with four goals.

“(Greg) makes a huge difference when his game is complete and on,” DeMarie said.
Metro made sure to take advantage of Western’s weaknesses.

“Their only strength is their midfield, so we tried to keep the ball out of the midfielder’s hands,” DeMarie said.

Throughout the game, Metro dominated the field, keeping the ball in their zone for most of the game. They determined the pace of the game, and Western couldn’t stand up to their defense.

The team’s cohesive play is starting to show. The week before they stomped the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a 10-0 win.

"We’re gelling much better as a team,” DeMarie said. “We’re getting used to our way of play.”