The Air Academy girls lacrosse team is deep, talented and, so far, perfect. Staying that way at Wednesday’s Class 5A state championship game against Cherry Creek will be the Kadets’ biggest challenge of the year, but Air Academy can brag until then about its 17-0 record.
The Kadets’ latest victory came Saturday at the University of Denver, where they beat Kent Denver 18-8 in a state semifinal playoff game.
“We can’t be happy with getting to the finals. We want to win,” Kadets senior Allie McLaughlin said. “We’re going to have to be really calm and collected and not freak out. Just play the best game we’ve ever played.”
McLaughlin scored three goals for the Kadets, including a big one with one second left in the first half to give Air Academy a 9-5 lead.
“Momentum is everything in lacrosse, and that goal helped us to get going in the second half,” Air Academy coach Sean Harmon said.
Junior attacker Alex Befus led everyone with six goals. Senior Nell Erzinger had three goals for Kent Denver (15-3).
Air Academy 9 9 — 18
Kent Denver 5 3 — 8
Air Academy: Goals — Saegert, Bernstein, Befus 6, Olsen 3, McLaughlin 3, Beal 2, Barry 2. Assists — Befus 2, McLaughlin 2, Befus, Bernstein 3.
Kent Denver: Goals — Ch. Ammons 2, Er- zinger 3, Vigil, Mower, Galansky. Assists — Burke, Vigil, Mower.
Saves — Air Academy (Keller) 4, Kent Denver (Julia) 4.
Cherry Creek 20, East 8
After a first half that forebode a tense, exciting second, Cherry Creek quickly made sure there would be no such thing.
A two-goal lead after 25 minutes finished in a blowout for the three-time defending champion Bruins.
Adjusting to the East Angels’ physical style made the difference in the second half, Bruins coach Cayel Dwyer said.
“We struggled to adapt to their style at first. Once we figured that out, things went a little better for us,” Dwyer said.
Junior attacker Kameryn Downing led the second-half charge for the Bruins with three scores, and senior Mc- Kenzie Brown had two. Downing had a game-high six goals with two assists, and Annie Anton had 10 points overall (three goals, seven assists).
The Bruins (19-2) are 54-0-1 in their last 55 games against Colorado teams.
“We want a team that all works with each other, so that a team can’t say they just have to shut down one player and that game’s over,” Dwyer said.
The Angels finished 13-3. Lizzie Larson, Tori Larson and Maxwell Blair scored two goals apiece for the Angels.
Cherry Creek 9 11 — 20
East 7 1 — 8
Cherry Creek: Goals — Anton 3, Downing 6, Brown 5, Barrett 2, Zerr 2, Tanabe, Boone. Assists — Anton 7, Downing 2, Barrett 2, Zerr.
East: Goals — T. Larson 2, Blair 2, L. Larson 2, Gilbert, Bate. Assists — Larson, Gilbert, Blair.
Saves — Cherry Creek (Coyle) 4, East (Romero) 4.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
