Junior middie McKenzie Brown scored seven goals and dished one assist to lead No. 1 Cherry Creek to a 15-12 victory over No. 4 Heritage/Littleton in the Colorado High School Activities Association state championship game Wednesday night at Douglas County Stadium.
Senior middie Lauren Johnson added six points on three goals and three assists, and senior middie Allie Welsh registered five points on two goals and three assists, as Cherry Creek (15-4) won its third straight state title and fifth championship in the last six years.
Senior attack Leslie Brentlinger, senior attack Kathryn Keppler and senior middie Morgan Johnson all finished with two points on a goal and an assist for Cherry Creek, which has now won eight state championships.
Cherry Creek was a perfect 14-0 against in-state competition this season, and the Bruins have now won 27 straight against Colorado teams. Cherry Creek is also on a 42-game unbeaten streak against its in-state rivals, having not lost to a Colorado team since March 14, 2006.
“We only had two kids on this team who were returning starters,” said Cherry Creek Coach Cayel Dwyer, who won his fourth state championship. “To be able to win another state championship, it’s a huge accomplishment. And it all comes down to the work ethic of our players.”
In a losing effort, junior middie Liz Datino scored four goals and added one assist, freshman middie Anna Salemo and senior middie Olivia Annalora each netted four goals, and senior goalie Anna Wallingford saved 21 shots for Heritage/Littleton, which finished the season 16-3.
Cherry Creek led 6-4 at halftime before scoring three unanswered goals to start the second half and push ahead, 9-4. Cherry Creek took its biggest lead of the game at 11-5 after Brown scored with 21:54 remaining.
Heritage/Littleton fought back, closing the deficit all the way down to two goals at 14-12 following Datino’s fourth goal with 3:03 remaining in regulation. But Brentlinger answered to put the Bruins back up by three goals with 2:12 to play.
“They played great midfield defense, and we struggled early,” Dwyer said. “We were able to get our transition game going, and what we found out is if you move the goalie left to right, it’s a lot easier to beat her.”
