With 30-minute halves and a running clock, time is of the essence in field hockey. Colorado Academy did not waste a second.
Caught in the middle of a crowd of East defenders, Georgia Grey corralled a pass from Morgan Miller and tapped in what would be the deciding goal with 5.5 seconds remaining in the first half as Colorado Academy slipped by the Angels 2-0 in the first round of the state playoffs Thursday at Slater Field.
“We didn’t give up. We pushed it to the last second,” Grey said.
Colorado Academy (12-3-1), which won a state championship in 1997, held off a strong second-half surge from visiting East (11-4), and Kerry Ergen put the game away with a goal in the final 5 minutes of action. The Mustangs will get a rematch against top-seeded Smoky Hill in the semifinals Wednesday.
Logan Brown and the Mustangs set the pace early, putting pressure on East goalkeeper Lexi Sigler. The Angels matched the intensity of Colorado Academy midway through the first half, prompting the officials to start reviewing the rules for overtime.
But as the half neared its end, Miller delivered a pass into the circle that Grey was able to finish. The shot appeared to bounce off an East defender before slipping into the net.
Despite the last-second goal, the Angels came out motivated for the second half.
“I think I told them to get (angry),” East coach Julie Stephens said. “I told them that I didn’t want to lose this game on that one goal.”
The Angels’ 11 victories were the most in program history, and a regular-season victory over perennial powerhouse Cherry Creek firmly established East, which has 19 seniors on the roster, among the few elite teams in the state.
Before Ergen ended East’s chance for a comeback, Elaina Kelly pushed a pass toward the net but Colorado Academy keeper Courtney Engle came out of the goal and reached the ball first. Her kick save with 12 minutes remaining denied the Angels of their last, best scoring opportunity.
Ergen capped the game soon after, but she was quick to spread the credit around.
“Morgan was really strong going down the left side and Maggie (Dickman) got a touch on it,” Ergen said. “I was just there and tapped it in. It was really a team effort.”
East 0 0 – 0
Colorado Academy 1 1 – 2
Goals – Grey (Miller), 30th minute; Ergen (Dickman), 55th.
Shots on goal – East 0-4 – 4; Colorado Academy 4-1 – 5.
Saves – East (Sigler) 3-0 – 3; Colorado Academy (Engle) 0-4 – 4.
Penalty corners – East 1-4 – 5; Colorado Academy 4-1 – 5.
