Kent Denver's 2008 state championship lacrosse team was one for the ages.

A perfect 15-0 season produced Kent Denver's first state title in four years and placed the Sun Devils in elite company. The squad of virtual all-stars, many of whom left to play in top college lacrosse programs, finished the season ranked No. 12 nationally by Inside Lacrosse magazine.

Even the Sun Devils rivals had to tip their hat at the nearly perfect combination of talent, chemistry, coaching and desire that Kent Denver displayed.

"That was the best team I've seen in Colorado," Fort Collins coach Carey Smith said.

While almost everyone predicted Kent's superiority in the 2008 preseason, this season will not likely produce another team of the same level.

The Sun Devils are a consensus choice as the No. 1 team again. But Kent Denver will face challenges from an array of contenders, something Kent Denver coach Tom Graesser says his team is well aware of.

"I think they realize they are the hunted and the seniors are pretty united in thinking, 'Alright, everybody is coming after us, so let's meet the challenge.' "

The Sun Devils will rely more on their attack, while a young defense develops. Helping considerably is the return of midfielder Patrick Murray, one of the most highly recruited players in the country before he committed to Georgetown.

At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Murray's production and leadership were huge components of the championship team.

"The way he is built, I would compare him to a svelte fullback on a football team," Graesser said. "The kid can have a stick in his gut and he still is going to get his shot off."

Last season, Murray, a Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado selection, had 29 goals and 24 assists and was recognized as a U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American.

Frazier Cavness, who has committed to Dartmouth, and Willie Strazza, the Sun Devils' best face-off player, also return, giving Kent Denver a formidable attack. Cavness was the team's second-leading scorer with 31 goals and 20 assists. He keeps defenses off-balance with his arsenal of shots.

"He literally never stops, and he's tough," Graesser said. "He shoots so well from both hands, I defy you to decide whether he's right-handed or left-handed after watching him play."

While the Sun Devils have the respect of every lacrosse team with championship aspirations, there is also a feeling that this season is wide open for a new champion.

"When we were winning it all in 2005 and 2006 nobody thought they could beat us until they beat us," said Cherry Creek coach Bryan Perry, whose Bruins likely will be the Sun Devils' top challengers for the state title. "There are a lot of good teams out there. We'll just have to see where everyone comes out in the wash."

Mullen, Regis Jesuit and Arapahoe join Cherry Creek and Fort Collins as the top threats.

The Sun Devils will be tested early when they host Arapahoe on March 12. With 21 seniors returning after successful playoff runs the past two years, the Warriors are thinking of the possibilities.

"There is talk of a state title," said Arapahoe coach Guy Cerasoli, who played for Kent Denver in high school. "It is on the radar."

NOTEBOOK

Colorado boys lacrosse has grown to 61 programs, forcing a realignment of the leagues. While there still is only one classification, this season there are eight leagues instead of four. One of the new leagues is the Mountain League, made up of several relatively older programs, such as Steamboat Springs, along with some new sanctioned programs, like Grand Junction. Teams in the Mountain League will play each other twice.

"I think it is nice for us," Steamboat Springs coach Bob Heister said. "I think we are going to be more competitive, as a group, than we would playing in the Foothills and Front Range League."

Kent Denver coach Tom Graesser said the realignment was needed and reflects the growth of the sport in Colorado.

"I started here in the 70s and to just imagine that there would someday be a Mountain Conference is extraordinary," he said. "I think the alignment is intelligent and allows for the growth of the game."

Another change will be the seeding of teams for the state tournament. Each league will have two seeding representatives, and all the representatives will meet immediately after the regular season to determine the tournament seeding.

"It's something that had to come," said Regis Jesuit coach Jim Soran, whose team switches from the Continental League to the newly formed South Suburban League in the realignment. "We lost some good rivalries with Littleton and Douglas County, but the growth is positive."

Brian Cole of Lewis-Palmer returns for his senior season this year after leading the state in scoring. While the Rangers didn't play many of the elite teams in the state, Cole's totals of 70 goals and 35 assists were still an impressive accomplishment.

"He's a left-hander that gives goalies a tough look," Lewis-Palmer coach Shawn Denmeade said of the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Cole. "Most goalies aren't used to seeing such strength from that side of the field."

Lewis-Palmer is coming off its most successful season after reaching the second round of the playoffs. This season the Rangers return 15 seniors and expectations are high.

"We hope to build on last season, and we have the leadership and players to do that," Denmeade said.

James Stanley of Mullen has earned a solid reputation guarding the Mustangs goal, and Mullen coach Mitch Brin says Stanley could be the top goalie in the state this season. Stanley, who was credited with 169 saves last season and allowed 138 goals in 18 games, seemed to excel in the biggest games.

Brin said Stanley's first half of work against Gilman of Maryland, ranked No. 1 in the country by Inside Lacrosse, was perhaps his finest performance of the season.

"He really held us together," Brin said. "In the first half he must have had 15 saves. He's just a great ball stopper who has an uncanny ability to make great saves."

Three players who earned U.S. Lacrosse All-American status return this season: midfielders Patrick Murray of Kent Denver, C.J. Schmidt of Regis and attacker Michael Beimford of Cherry Creek. Murray has committed to Georgetown.

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