The first trip to Colorado’s field hockey championship game for St. Mary’s Academy, so long in coming, actually was delayed an extra 3 minutes, 12 seconds.
After Stephanie Guglielmo’s goal gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead 6:48 into the first overtime Wednesday night, they had to withstand the remainder of the extra session. It was worth the wait.
The state semifinal win over Smoky Hill, the regular-season champion, at All-City Stadium on Wednesday night gave the Wildcats (12-4-1) their first title shot next Monday night in 11 years of qualifying for the postseason.
“This is SMA history, this is great,” Guglielmo said. “It comes straight from the gut.”
So did her winning score, set up on a pass from Ellen Hackstaff with traffic in front of the goal. Guglielmo crept in front of the goal and went for the right side. The ball bounced, dribbled and went in.
It was the only time the Wildcats led, but it was the best time.
According to coach Marcene Murphy, the Wildcats “had to overcome fever, ups and downs and mononucleosis” among a wave of difficulties throughout the season, as well as an injury Wednesday to senior defender Annie Scott, who took a wicked, high pass off the face. It was a nasty blast, almost as nasty as the cold, windy weather. She suffered a small gash on her cheek and will be OK, Murphy said.
Throughout regulation St. Mary’s carried the play, yet trailed at halftime. Natalie Foester’s goal for Smoky Hill (15-2-1), set up by Shelby Stillwagon, came 7:54 before halftime.
The Wildcats weren’t able to tie it until Hackstaff scored on their second penalty shot — her twin sister, Ellen, was stopped on another by Smoky Hill goalie Olivia Patton, with 19:28 remaining in the second half — within a 10-minute span of the second half.
Natalie Hackstaff fired one to the left side of the goal to tie it.
“Like I said before, you’ve got to trust the officials, (but) I’ve never seen two penalty strokes in one game,” Smoky Hill co-coach Brad Bryant said. “It’s a tough way to end the season. We had very high expectations. I’m proud of the girls, and they battled the whole way through.”
St. Mary’s Academy 0 1 1 — 2
Smoky Hill 1 0 0 — 1
Goals — SH, Foester (Stillwagon); SMA, N. Hackstaff; SMA, Guglielmo, (E. Hackstaff).
