MISSOULA — Missoula Sentinel held the lead after a low-scoring first half and had a chance to pull off a big high school boys lacrosse upset on Thursday.
But Missoula Hellgate came alive in the second half, out-scoring the Spartans 10-0 in the final quarters to beat Sentinel 10-1.
The Spartans’ Andrew Hawkins scored the only goal of the first half with 4:30 left in the second quarter. Sentinel shut down a Knights squad that averages more than 10 goals per game.
Sam Triepke quickly changed things in the second half. He scored after a move from behind the net to tie the game 1-1 early in the third quarter. Then a minute and a half later, he gave the Knights the lead for good, picking up a loose ball in front of the net and finishing for another goal. By the end of the third, Hellgate had built a 7-1 lead. The Knights scored three more in the fourth to finish off the crosstown rival Spartans.
Hellgate will play at Whitefish on Saturday. Sentinel will host Helena on the same day.
