Aurora – Heritage sophomore Olivia Annalora scored eight goals, including the go-ahead score in the final minute, as the Eagles avenged a loss to Smoky Hill a week ago with a 13-10 victory over the Buffaloes in the first round of the playoffs Thursday at Legacy Stadium.
“Our offense uses a lot of (isolation), and there really are no plays set up for a single person,” said Annalora, who has 61 goals this season. “We just get it down (the field), settle it and work it around. We wanted revenge. We brought it to them.”
Smoky Hill beat Heritage 12-10 near the end of the regular season.
The Eagles, a combined team that includes Littleton, improved to 10-6 and advanced to the second round for the second straight year and will next face Cherry Creek. Heritage has never advanced past the second round and suffered a 23-1 loss to the Bruins last week.
Smoky Hill (11-5), a semifinalist the past two seasons, was led by Amber Lister (three goals) and Cortney Brooks (two goals).
The Buffaloes trailed 5-2 midway through the first half but began a rally before halftime and stretched it into the second half. Brooks, who later received a red card, tied the score at 7 with a penalty shot.
Alisha Miyazawa, who plays goal for Smoky Hill’s field hockey team, gave the Buffaloes the lead after winning a faceoff and beating Heritage keeper Anna Wallingford to the high left corner. Carly Wagner made it a two-goal lead for Smoky Hill moments later, and Wallingford needed a second to regain her composure.
Smoky Hill goalkeeper Chelsea Wagner did not make it easy for Heritage to get back in the game. Wagner stopped four straight penalty shots – basically one-on-one between the keeper and the shooter – and two other shots on goal before allowing one to Annalora.
Heritage 5 8 – 13
Smoky Hill 4 6 – 10
Goals – H: Annalora 8, Hosack, Kelly, Keogh, Nepil, Renner; SH: Lister 3, Brooks 2, Campos, Graf, Irgens, Miyazawa, Ca. Wagner. Assists – H: Nepil; SH: Campos 2.
Shots on goal – Heritage 10-14 – 24; Smoky Hill 9-8 – 17. Saves – Heritage (Wallingford) 5-2 – 7; Smoky Hill (Ch. Wagner) 5-6 – 11. Yellow cards – SH: Brooks 2, Lister, Dickinson. Red card – Brooks.
