By Joshua Cole
WSL Special Correspondent

LITTLETON, Colo. -- Defending state champion Arapahoe did everything right down the stretch Wednesday night to extend its nearly two-season-long in-state winning streak.

During the final three minutes, the Warriors killed a one-minute penalty, goalie Scott Thompson blocked a shot from point-blank range, defenseman Alex Gieser intercepted a pass in mid-air and defenseman Davis Gunter smothered Cherry Creek senior attackman Blake Cassidy to prevent a last-second shot.

When all was said and done, No. 2 Arapahoe had escaped with a captivating, 7-6 victory over No. 6 Cherry Creek in a Colorado High School Activities Association game between the state’s top two teams.

Arapahoe (13-1) won its 26th straight game against Colorado competition and ended the Bruins’ 10-game in-state winning streak.

The Warriors' defense held Cassidy and attackman Seyler Skudneski, Cherry Creek's leading scorer, both without a point in the low-scoring contest. Gunter said Arapahoe paid particular attention to shutting down Skundneski.

“He was trying to get top side, and we locked everybody else off,” Gunter said. “He fought hard.”

After managing just two first-half goals, Arapahoe scored four straight to start the third quarter to go up 6-3. Drexel-bound senior attackman Greg Colosimo had two of the goals, including a man-up shot from about 10 yards away and 25 degrees from the end line with 45 seconds left in the period.

After Cherry Creek middie John Neal scored in transition on the ensuing face-off, Arapahoe middie Greg Bechler bounced in a shot on a delayed penalty with one second remaining in the third to put the Warriors ahead, 7-4.

“We really didn't say much at halftime,” Colosimo said. “We kind of talked about how we weren't playing the way we were supposed to be playing. We pushed the ball a little bit, got our passes cleaner and started finishing shots.”

Cherry Creek middie Henri Halle, who finished with a game-high five points, scored twice in the fourth quarter to get the Bruins (10-2) within a goal. Air Force-bound senior middie Scott Hewitson and sophomore attackman Kendall Williams scored Cherry Creek's other goals.

Cherry Creek was playing without defenseman Kevin Arnold, who injured his shoulder on Monday against Mullen.

Arapahoe and Cherry Creek demonstrated much different styles of play. Cherry Creek’s players avoided contact, passing or walking the ball around the perimeter of the box, while Arapahoe's defensemen remained close to the goal. Combined with getting all but two face-offs, Cherry Creek possessed the ball for two or three times more than Arapahoe.

“They were looking for a bunch of open men, open cutters, but we just weren't letting that happen,” Gunter said.

Meanwhile, Arapahoe’s offense players bull-dodged Cherry Creek’s defenders whenever they could.

In the first half, Arapahoe players looked eager to get rid of the ball with fast shots – and quick turnarounds. In the second half, Arapahoe continued to be physical but waited to draw defenders in order to pass to an open player.

For instance, with 4:33 remaining third quarter, middie Jack Bobzien had just rubbed against two defenders in the middle of the box when he passed to Hunter Hall at the edge of the far side of the crease. Hall, who had wrapped around from the back of the net, put in an easy point-blank goal, his second of the game. Bobzien also had a goal in the first half.

Arapahoe middie Dylan Smith also scored, and middie Dylan Leary had two assists.

“We’re a young team, and that’s what happens. There’s a lot of panic and not enough focus," Cherry Creek head coach Bryan Perry said. “To hold that team to seven goals, we did pretty well. I was real proud of our defensive effort. Our offense has to pick it up a little bit. That’s a learning experience.”