Colorado Academy puts streak on the line in state field hockey championship

The Colorado Academy (Denver) field hockey team is acutely aware of the streak. Both of them, actually.

The Mustangs have won three consecutive straight state championships, which ultimately is the more significant of the two. But the one everyone wants to talk about is the 69-game unbeaten streak. Since the start of the 2012 season, CA is 66-0-3.

Seems as if everyone is well aware, and that includes Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), which will oppose the Mustangs in the championship game Saturday night (7:30 p.m., All City Stadium).

"In some ways it's a little burden because everyone carries on about the streak," Mustangs coach Veronica Scott said. "I'd rather recognize the quality of our play in each game in its own right. The girls are pretty good at coming back to that. Other people external from the team may comment about the streak, but for us it's about each game."

Scott, whose team is 16-0-1 this season and had a stretch of 51 straight wins snapped with a tie against Golden on Oct. 7, says the unbeaten streak will be moot after play begins Saturday night.

"Having a winning streak doesn't make you the best team," said Scott, in her second season at the helm. "Winning when it counts makes you the best team, and what's the point of having a winning streak if we can't pull off (the championship) game?"

The Mustangs are led by senior Clara Petch, who has registered team bests of 18 goals and 14 assists, and classmate Maddie Webster, who has contributed 11 goals, two assists. Junior goalie Bridget Sutter has been rock-solid, having permitted a mere eight goals in 17 games.

While some might argue there is more pressure on the Mustangs with their streaks in tow, first-year Cherry Creek coach Taylor Silvestro doesn't it see it that way.

"Both teams will have pressure on Saturday," said Silvestro, a former forward and captain at the University of Vermont. "We played earlier this season and it was a battle from the start of the game. The pressure is equal because it's a championship game and both teams want it."

Colorado Academy used goals from Petch and Webster to edge Cherry Creek 2-1 in the regular-season matchup, which marked CA's ninth consecutive win against the Bruins. Cherry Creek last beat the Mustangs on Oct. 8, 2009, a span that includes CA's 2-0 win in the 2013 title game.

None of that matters now to the Bruins (11-3-1), who need just one win to capture their first title since 2007. Cherry Creek knocked off Regis Jesuit (Aurora) 1-0 in the semifinals Wednesday on a goal by senior midfielder Ashley Hilyard, and appear to be cresting at the right time.

"The girls are so passionate about the sport and the team," Silvestro said. "Since the beginning when I started working with them, they've risen to every challenge and they're continuing to push themselves. Even with the season coming to an end, they're working to become better."

The final obstacle is the most challenging, coming in the form of a Colorado Academy squad that trailed 1-0 in the semifinals before roaring back for a 4-2 win against Palmer Ridge (Monument). The Mustangs are unaccustomed to trailing, but a key goal by Emma Richards helped fuel the comeback.

"Our game against Palmer Ridge was such a tough one, and that was a positive thing because we had to learn to step up," Scott said. "Ultimately, on Saturday night we're going to have to step up even further."