After a heartbreaking double overtime, the Lewis-Palmer Rangers lost to Resurrection Christian School by a close 3-2. Despite the Rangers’ hard work and intense effort, the RCS Cougars had a stronger offense and played a seemingly more rigorous game.

The Rangers started off strong, with senior Austin Williams scoring the only goal in the first period nine minute in. The Cougars came back into the second period with an aggressive offense and scored two goals on the Rangers, taking the lead 2-1.

It was tense in the Colorado Sports Center stands. The crowd only talked in a hushed whisper, mostly people wondering what was going on in the Lewis-Palmer locker room.

“There was just dead silence in the locker room after the coaches left – no music, no talking. Just focusing on what we had to do to win,” junior Josh Piggot explained. “We came out more determined than ever.”

But that determination was almost not enough for the Rangers. The first fifteen minutes of the third period went on scoreless, until, with two minutes left before the end of the final period, senior Andrew Clark kept the Rangers alive by scoring a game-saving goal. With the momentum in LP’s favor, the Rangers were able to hold off RCS’s intense attempts to score before the end of the game, sending them into their first overtime.

Despite multiple almost-goals, neither team scored in the first five-minute overtime. With no intermission besides a short break, the boys headed out for their second and final overtime period. The energy in the crowd was almost electric and the Rangers played their hardest, but that wasn’t enough to earn a spot in the final four championship. The RCS Cougars scored a sudden-death goal in the beginning of the second overtime, and the Rangers’ dream of being three-time state champs abruptly ended.

“All we did before the finals was train,” Piggot said. “It was all work and no play. We all knew we had a chance at going to state, and wanted to solidify that. We’re going to work equally as hard – if not harder – next year, and hopefully we can make it farther.”

Heads held high, the Rangers will continue their training and move forward next season.