Englewood – Everybody knows there is a rivalry between these teams, even if it is only the beginning of the season.
But the Kent Denver Sun Devils toed the company line Tuesday afternoon after a 5-2 victory over visiting Colorado Academy in a nonleague field hockey game at DeSorrento Memorial Field, saying it is too soon to make any judgments.
“It is way early in the season, and we are just feeling out our positions,” said Kent Denver’s Lauren Miller, a Duke-bound senior who had a goal and two assists.
The Sun Devils (2-0), winners of five of the past seven state titles, broke open a tie game with four second-half goals, including two by Remi Dikeou, and then put an exclamation point on the game when goalkeeper Sarah Bacon stuffed Colorado Academy’s Mariah Schuette on a one-on-one penalty shot with no time left on the clock.
“It’s the very beginning of the season, and we haven’t completely meshed yet,” Bacon said. “But I love my defense. They are amazing, and they have saved me so many times.”
Both goals for Colorado Academy (0-1) were scored by Schuette, who tied the game 1-1 late in the first half and then pulled the Mustangs to a 3-2 deficit in the 54th minute of play.
After her team’s season-opening loss, Colorado Academy coach Katy Hills pulled the Mustangs aside for a long talk.
“I just want to see them play our game, which is a team-oriented passing game,” Hills said. “When we play our best hockey, you just see connection after connection after connection in the passing game.”
Danielle Kachulis gave Kent Denver the lead for good in the 38th minute when she deflected a stroke from Miller after a penalty corner.
The duo set up the same play three minutes later, but the shot went wide of the goal. Less than 60 seconds later, Dikeou redirected and scored on another long shot from Miller to go up 3-1.
“This was our first tough game, and we just started to click as a team.” Dikeou said.
Both defenses showed moments of flair. For Colorado Academy, it came in the first half when Deslie Hamersky turned away a couple of charges by Kent Denver.
Late in the second half, Kent Denver’s Greta Meyer shut down a run by the Mustangs on back-to-back surges.
Kent Denver finished with 12 shots on goal to Colorado Academy’s six.
