ENGLEWOOD - A matchup between the top two girls lacrosse teams in Colorado had plenty of excitement but lacked resolution.

Cherry Creek and Kent Denver tied 12-12 on Thursday, forcing fans to ponder which team is better - at least until they meet again.

"Very crazy," Catie Tilton said of the game. "It was good all- around, and it always is between us."

Every game between the rivals is intense, but this round was a bit quirkier than usual.

The strangest occurrence might have cost Cherry Creek the win.

The top-ranked Bruins (2-0-1) had a goal erased at halftime because there was a mistake in the lineup handed out before the game. Creek coach Cayel Dwyer placed Lauren Johnson on the inactive roster instead of her sister Morgan, who was on a singing trip.

Lauren Johnson scored a goal with 1:51 remaining in the first half that would have given Creek an 8-7 halftime lead, but the goal was rescinded after the mistake was discovered and corrected.

"That's my fault for not checking," Dwyer said. "I don't know if anyone would have noticed if she didn't score, but it's not a big deal. When it comes down to it, there aren't any bragging rights to go with this (regular-season) game."

Even that could not deny an unusually streaky but well-played game. Kent Denver, ranked second, scored the first four goals of the second half to lead 11-7, but Creek came storming back behind some strong individual efforts.

Allison Scholbe ended a 12-minute scoring drought by going in all alone against Erin Tochihara, and the rest of the Bruins players followed with four goals in a row, including two of Perrie White's six goals.

Kent's Allysa Vigil tied the score 12-12 with 2:38 left after Greta Meyer's patient effort to draw the defense to herself before assisting the goal.

Cherry Creek then withstood a surge in the last two minutes that included four shots - three of which went wide - and a few turnovers that kept the Sun Devils (2-0-1) on the advantage.

"Anytime you can keep Creek to 12 goals, you're doing a good job defensively," Kent coach Greg Courter said. "We didn't do the best job of controlling (White), but it was a very even game."

Cherry Creek......7	5	-	12
Kent Denver......7	5	-	12

Goals-assists - CC, Perrie White 6-1, Catie Tilton 3-1, Allison Scholbe 2-0, Kathryn Keppler 1-0, Karin Hart 0-1, Lauren Johnson 0-1; KD, Kara Secora 4-2, Greta Meyer 3-1, Ann Stookesberry 2-1, Shannon Cudahy 1-4, Alyssa Vigil 1-2, Nell Erzinger 1-0.

Shots on goal - Cherry Creek 14-9 - 23; Kent Denver 8-10 - 18. Goalie saves - CC, Annette Greenberg 1-5 - 6; KD, Erin Tochihara 6-4 - 10. Cards - Hart, Meyer.

Back to Top