GREENWOOD VILLAGE — It probably wasn’t the way Tori Link would have preferred to have gotten into the game, but the freshman capitalized on the opportunity.
When starter Bailey Zerr exited the game with a right knee injury, Link stepped up, scoring one goal and assisting on another as the Bruins scored four consecutive goals en route to a over on Tuesday night at the Stutler Bowl.
The battle between the state’s top two teams was a back-and-forth affair after East (12-1) scored seven goals to rally from an early 4-1 deficit. Three times the No. 2-ranked Angels took a one-goal lead, and three times top-ranked Cherry Creek (14-0) tied it. The final time was on Link’s goal, and the Bruins scored six of the next seven to put the game away.
“I would say we all did it. I don’t think it was just my presence. We all brought it back,” Link said.
Kameryn Downing scored a game-high five goals and Shelby Barrett added three goals and four assists.
“We really struggled in our last few games to put a good second half together. So it was something we focused on,” Cherry Creek coach Cayel Dwyer said.
Maxwell Blair’s three goals — all in the second half — led East, but that was all the Angels could manage after halftime.
“We didn’t do exactly what’s been our strength — double the ball and make sure there’s not an outlet pass,” East coach Robert Romero said.
East 7 3 — 10
Cherry Creek 7 7 — 14
CC — Anne Anton; CC — Kameryn Downing (Shelby Barrett); E — Kelley McCarroll-Gilbert; CC — Downing (Barrett); CC — Bailey Zerr (Anya Gersoff); E — Ellie Moran (Tierra Romero); E — Larson; CC — Barrett; E — Helen Gaffigan; E — McCaroll-Gilbert; E — Gaffigan (McCarroll-Gilbert); CC — Downing; E — Romero; CC — Barrett; E — Maxwell Blair; CC — Tori Link (Barrett); CC — Gersoff; CC — Barrett (Link); CC — Downing (Barrett); E — Blair; CC — Kiki Boone; CC — Downing (Anton); CC — Anton; E — Blair
Saves: E — Sullivan 5; CC — Chaney 2, Eppard 6
