L-P dispatches of Air Academy, moves to hockey semifinals

It took awhile, as Lewis-Palmer coach Steve Fillo said, for his team to “get it.” On Saturday, against the last opponent to beat them, the Rangers proved they’ve got it.

Goalie Brent Schwarz recorded an 18-save shutout, captain Brandon Roseboro scored twice and Lewis-Palmer advanced to the state semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Air Academy in front of a crowd of about 500 at Sertich Ice Center.

Check out a gallery of photos from the game.

“We were one team today,” Roseboro said after the Rangers’ ninth straight victory. “Everyone was motivating each other, and it worked out for us.’’

Lewis-Palmer (15-3-3) will face another Peak Conference rival, Cheyenne Mountain, at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Broomfield Events Center. The teams tied 2-2 in December while the Rangers won 7-1 last month.

Lewis-Palmer's last loss came Jan. 25 against Air Academy, a 3-1 verdict in which the Kadets’ physical, grinding style controlled the game. On Saturday, the Rangers moved the puck crisply and matched Air Academy’s intensity to control the game from the start.

“We’re able to get out of the zone and get on the attack more,’’ said Kyle Lee, who assisted on both of Roseboro’s goals. “We’re moving the puck a lot better."

But Lewis-Palmer had nothing to show for it until Jakub Mohl scored from Justin Brame and Travis Fisk with 26 seconds left in the second period.

“The goal at the end of the second period was huge,” said Air Academy coach Dave Meisinger, whose team finished 12-6-3. “When you score at the end of a period like that, it’s a momentum-changer.’’

The Kadets tried to amp up their physicality in the third period, but that tactic landed them in the penalty box. And Roseboro and Lee made them pay with a power-play tally with 10:30 left.

“We’re a much more mature team now,” Fillo said in reference to the teams' last meeting. “The power-play goal was a perfect example of that.

“We’ve been scoring at a 45-percent clip on our power plays in the last eight games. You don’t do that unless you get it.’’

Lewis-Palmer finished with a 23-18 edge in shots, and Schwarz more than handled what few serious chances Air Academy had.

“I felt the team in front of me played really strong,’’ Schwarz said. “They made my job easy.’’

Roseboro added an empty-netter with 1:09 left.