HIGHLANDS RANCH - It is probably safe to assume the Mountain Vista girls soccer team will not be any more vulnerable this season than it was Tuesday against Air Academy.

The Golden Eagles, the No. 5 team in Class 5A, played at home without senior captain Mindy Daines and junior goalkeeper Becca Cushing, who dislocated a finger in practice this week.

Yet the 10th-ranked Kadets couldn't kick Mountain Vista while it was down. Freshman Haley Hughes and junior midfielder Chelsea Stewart combined for two goals, with Stewart providing the winner in overtime, as the Golden Eagles won an early nonconference matchup 2-1.

"This helps tremendously," Stewart said. "Those two players who were out, they were on the bench cheering us on. It boosted us even more, and getting this win only helps us going into (the conference) season. Air Academy is a good team that was ranked in preseason, so it was good to see what we will be up against."

Stewart's overtime goal allowed Mountain Vista (1-1) to gain a split in a demanding season-opening stretch that included a 2-1 loss at No. 6 Fort Collins on Thursday.

Stewart helped the Golden Eagles get on the board late in the first half by sending a perfectly placed wing-to-wing crossing pass to Hughes, who charged in from the right side to record the first varsity goal of her career.

Mountain Vista's lead remained 1-0 until the midway point of the second half, when Air Academy's Ginna Lucia collected a ball in traffic and beat Golden Eagles freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Rychlee to tie the score at 1-1.

Rychlee, though, more than held her own in her first varsity appearance against an Air Academy team that outshot the hosts 8-5.

Hughes, working from deep along the right wing, returned the favor to Stewart about 3 minutes into the extra session, sliding a pass to Stewart before her blast from near the top of the box beat goalkeeper Caitlyn Moses.

"To play a freshman keeper like that in a big game, it was a great experience for her," Mountain Vista coach Theresa Echtermeyer said. "(Hughes) is another kid we pulled up from (junior varsity), but Mindy Daines is hurt. She's pretty much earned her varsity spot. We're fortunate we have good depth on the bench."

Goals - 1, MV, Haley Hughes (Chelsea Stewart), 36th minute; 2, AA, Ginna Lucia (Maddy Hays), 57th minute; 3, MV, Stewart (Hughes), 83rd minute.

Shots on goal - AA, 3-5-0-8; MV, 3-1-1-5. Saves - AA (Dana Hamilton 2; Caitlyn Moses 1); MV (Stephanie Rychlee 7). Corner kicks - AA, 1-1-0-2; MV, 4-2-0-6.