Cherry Hills Village – For the past few seasons, the regular-season game between Cherry Creek and Kent Denver has been a good barometer of what to expect come state tournament time.
A tie just leaves everyone guessing.
It’s fitting that the top two girls lacrosse teams in the state battled to a 12-12 tie Thursday at Justin DeSorrento Memorial Field.
Kent Denver coach Greg Courter said it’s the kind of situation that has pluses and minuses regardless of who wins. The Sun Devils’ coach watched each team trade victories during the regular season over the past two years, with the winner coming back to lose the state title game.
Cherry Creek (2-0-1) could have won it after a first-half goal from Lauren Johnson, but it was disallowed by officials.
“In the grand scheme of things, if we have that one extra goal, I guarantee you that Kent finds a way to still tie it up,” Cherry Creek coach Cayel Dwyer said.
Kent Denver (2-0-1) opened the second half with four straight goals to go up 11-7, only to watch the Bruins rally.
Back-to-back tallies by University of Virginia-bound Perrie White (six goals) gave Cherry Creek the lead with under seven minutes to play.
An Alyssa Vigil goal would tie the game moments later, but Kent would not be able to solve Cherry Creek goalie Annette Greenberg again.
Three late saves by Greenberg, including a deflection on Shannon Cudahy’s free position shot with 45 seconds left, preserved the tie.
“At the end of the game, is when you have to pick things up and keep the intensity up,” Greenberg said.
Cherry Creek 7 5 – 12
Kent Denver 7 5 – 12
Goals – CC: White 6, Tilton 3, Keppler, Scholbe, Brown; KD: Secora 4, Meyer 3, Stookesberry 2, Vigil, Cudahy, Erzinger.
Assists – CC: Tilton, White, Johnson; KD: Cudahy 4, Secora 2, Vigil 2, Stookesberry, Meyer.
Shots on goal – Cherry Creek 13-10 – 23; Kent Denver 8-11 – 18. Saves – Cherry Creek (Greenberg) 1-5 – 6; Kent Denver (Tochihara) 6-5 – 11. Yellow cards – Hart, CC; White, CC; Meyer KD.
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
