Colorado Academy gets jump on field hockey competition

Few programs – in any sport – have had an opportunity to experience a run similar to the one currently enjoyed by the Colorado Academy (Denver) field hockey team.

The two-time defending state champions last lost a game on Oct. 31, 2011, and that came in the state championship to Kent Denver. Since that time the Mustangs have gone 48-0-2, with the latest victory coming against Golden last Friday, 4-0 in the first round of the 2014 state tournament.

Colorado Academy (15-0) awaits the winner of another first-round matchup – Denver East or Regis Jesuit (Aurora) – in Wednesday's semifinals. The winner of that game advances to Saturday's state championship game at All-City Stadium in Denver.

First-year Mustangs coach Veronica Scott had high praise for the Demons' defense Friday after Colorado Academy had scored six goals in the teams' regular-season contest.

"You take nothing for granted in league games, and you absolutely take nothing for granted in the playoffs," Scott said. "Though we had beaten Golden before, you're still nervous and you still have to do your best and you have to win the game at the end of the day."

Scott took over for Daan Polders after last season, and the Mustangs haven't missed a beat under the former professional player and coach. Of course, it doesn't hurt that three of the team's seniors –Henley Hall, Sterre Van Ede and Julia Murphy – rank in the top five in the state in points.

"I feel really blessed. It's been a wonderful journey actually. I feel blessed because I stepped into a program where the foundation was already established," said Scott, who credited Polders for that foundation. "I'm quite impressed with the level of play from my team. I've been extremely impressed with their adaptability."

Colorado Academy has proven to be the team to beat, and Scott and her players are well aware of the pressure that comes with that target. The Mustangs haven't played the Angels or Raiders since early in the season, and Scott said while she expects both teams have grown immensely since then, so has Colorado Academy.

"At the end of the day it's about our game, how we need to play," she said. "Nerves are a good thing if you channel them correctly, and the girls are certainly aware of that. It's just having that total trust – trust in ourselves, trust in each other, trust in what we know we can do and what we're capable of.

"If we go out there and play with that sense of confidence, not arrogance, and if we do the best we can hopefully things will go our way."

State field hockey bracket

First-round offers intriguing rematches
* When Palmer Ridge (Monument) takes to the field Monday for its state tournament opener, there won't be much mystery in regards to its opponent. The third-seeded Bears (10-3-2) host Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), a rematch of the regular-season finale for both teams from five days ago. Palmer Ridge won that contest 1-0.

Palmer Ridge coach Paul Lewis called the back-to-back games with the Bruins a "Catch-22."

"It's whoever makes better adjustments," he said. "We're going to definitely have to be able to finish goals."

One player who has been instrumental in the Bears' success has been senior Ashley Walker, who is second in the state in points (10 goals, 14 assists).

"She's a real workhorse," Lewis said. "Physically she can probably outrun most athletes in the league."

Cherry Creek (7-6-1) was the state runner-up a year ago.

* The matchup between fourth-seeded Denver East and Regis Jesuit is another rematch of a regular-season finale, which ended in a 0-0 tie. The Raiders defeated the Angels 1-0 back on Sept. 11.

Regis Jesuit (7-7-1) has been backed by junior goalie Claire Stemper, who leads the state in saves and allows only 1.3 goals per game. Abby Wist scored the lone goal in the two contests with Denver East.

Denver East (7-2-5) seniors Georgia Borison and Fiona Sullivan have combined for 11 goals this season.

* The other first-round matchup pits second-seeded Kent Denver (Englewood), a nine-time state champion, against Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs).

The Sun Devils (12-1-1) outscored opponents 44-4 this season (the only loss came to Colorado Academy). Senior Hannah Freeman leads the way with 11 goals and senior Kennedy Schumacher is second in the state in assists with 13. Senior goalie Emilie-Ann Choi has allowed only 0.3 goals per game.

Cheyenne Mountain (6-6-3) dropped three of its final five games, but junior Kaitlin MacLennan has seven goals and four assists.