GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Cherry Creek wasn’t about to let Mountain Vista continue its magic carpet ride.
The Bruins pulled the rug out from underneath the Golden Eagles’ stellar season with a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory in the field hockey state semifinals on Wednesday night at All-City Stadium.
The victory was doubly satisfying for Cherry Creek (13-3) after it lost two one-goal games to Mountain Vista (13-2-1) in the regular season.
“I was happy to play them again,” said Leslie Brentlinger, who scored the go-ahead goal for the Bruins. “It was a great feeling to beat them after they did it to us twice.”
Mountain Vista, the top seed in the playoffs, had a remarkable run. The Golden Eagles became the first team other than the Big Four – Cherry Creek, Kent Denver, Smoky Hill and Colorado Academy – to reach the state semifinals since 1999.
“I can’t say enough about my girls,” Mountain Vista coach Brian Nutter said. “It’s been an incredible season. To be the first team to break into that top four was wonderful.”
The Bruins have reached at least the semifinals each of the past nine seasons, and they won a state title in 2002. That type of experience proved crucial against Mountain Vista during the second half.
Trailing 1-0 after Kate Spring scored off an assist from Jess Webb in the opening minutes of the game, Cherry Creek turned up the pressure.
The Bruins forced the action in front of Mountain Vista’s goal.
Cherry Creek 0 2 – 2
Mountain Vista 1 0 – 1
First half – MV: Spring (Webb), 25:16. Second half – CC: Brown (McLaughlin), 17:12. CC: Brentlinger (Ellickson), 13:06.
Shots on goal – Cherry Creek 6-6 – 12; Mountain Vista 3-3 – 6. Saves – Cherry Creek (Colbert) 2-3 – 5; Mountain Vista (Buehner) 6-4 – 10.
