When it was tied early, eight goals into the first half, Saturday’s first girls lacrosse semifinal seemed befitting for a game between 17-0 teams. Large discrepancies in experience, depth and strength of schedule, however, soon turned the contest into a rout.
Top-seeded Cherry Creek erupted for nine consecutive goals to defeat No. 4 Columbine 28-9 at the University of Denver’s Barton Lacrosse Stadium.
The Bruins, who bowed to Air Academy in the state championship a year ago, went on their run to take a 13-4 lead midway through the first half. They forced a running clock soon thereafter, during a 6-0 run that gave them a 19-6 lead at halftime.
“We just had a lot of motivation for this game, because we want redemption from last year so badly,” said senior attack Kameryn Downing, who had a game-high eight goals in the Bruins’ best offensive performance of the year. “We really wanted to get to the finals.”
No. 1 Cherry Creek (18-0) will face No. 2 Denver East (17-1) in Wednesday’s championship game at Barton Stadium. The teams played May 4, and the Bruins won 14-10.
Saturday against Columbine, Bruins senior midfielder Shelby Barnett added six goals and senior middie KiKi Boone chipped in four.
Columbine senior Annie Larson paced her team with five goals.
“We’re proud of our girls about what they accomplished this year,” Rebels coach Alise Steiner said. “(The Bruins) are a very good team. Great stick work, great speed.”
Denver East 17, Kent Denver 13
East did its part to make Wednesday’s state championship a No. 1 vs. No. 2 affair. The Angels got hat tricks from Tierra Romero, Kelly McCarroll-Gilbert, Mary Prevedel and Maxwell Blair to beat No. 6 Kent Denver.
Kent Denver (13-5) trailed 8-6 at halftime and was down 14-9 with 10 minutes to play. The Sun Devils got within 15-13 at 5:50 but the Angels responded with goals from Tori Larson and Blair to seal it.
CHERRY CREEK 29, COLUMBINE 9 ()
Columbine 6 3 — 9
Cherry Creek 19 9 — 28
Goals — C: Larson (5), Amme (3), Snow. CC: Downing (8), Barnett (6), Boone (4), Anton (3), Goddard (3), Gersoff (2), Zerr, Erickson
DENVER EAST 17, KENT DENVER 13 ()
Kent Denver 6 7 — 13
Denver East 8 9 — 17
Goals — KD: Mower (3), Dikeou (3), Land (2), Burke (2), Coates, Strazza, Ellis. DE: Romero (3), McCarroll-Gilbert (3), Prevedel (3), Blair (3), T. Larson (2), Gaffigan, L. Larson, Moran.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
