Greenwood Village – An invisible barrier divides the elite of Colorado prep field hockey from the second tier. East finally broke through it.
Brianna Elder took an assist from Zan Beczkalo and turned her shot into an open net in the 14th minute of action, and the Angels held on Wednesday night for a 1-0 victory over Cherry Creek at the Stutler Bowl.
It was East’s first win over the Bruins in the program’s history.
“I was about to die. It was very, very nerve-wracking,” Elder said. “It’s amazing to beat one of the top four teams. We’ve always been the fifth team on the outside.”
Six-time state champion Kent Denver, Cherry Creek, Colorado Academy and Smoky Hill are the only schools to win a state title and are considered the state’s best teams. But the Angels can enter the argument.
East (6-2) had stout defense and the goalkeeping of Lexie Sigler. Cherry Creek (7-2) peppered her with 24 shots on goal, 15 in the second half. East managed just three shots on goal all game, but Sigler said she was OK.
“It was a really intense game,” Sigler said. “I was ready for the shots, I really was.”
Sigler, who picked up field hockey a year ago, was active in front of the goal. She came as much as 10 yards out of the net to kick away a threat, and there were plenty as the Bruins turned up the heat in the second half.
Stephanie Pepper, Perrie White, Leslie Brentlinger and others kept the action on East’s half of the field for most of the second half. In the final 10 seconds, White had a shot go between Sigler’s legs, but it rolled wide left of the goal, one of many close calls.
“We had a lot of chances,” White said. “It felt like we were putting a lot pressure on them, but we just couldn’t get a goal.”
East coach Julie Stephens was very animated on the sideline, frequently on her knees or jumping up and down.
“Very rarely does someone penetrate those top four teams,” Stephens said. “I have 19 seniors, and they were tired of losing to Creek.”
East 1 0 – 1
Cherry Creek 0 0 – 0
Goal – Elder. Assist – Beczkalo. Shots on goal – E: 2-1 – 3; CC: 9-15 – 24. Saves – E (Sigler): 9-15 – 24; CC (Hand and Colbert): 1-1 – 2.
