The argument can be made that this field hockey season was the most diverse ever in Colorado.

For starters, a team other than Kent Denver and Colorado Academy played for the state title for the first time since 2003. Cherry Creek won the championship.

Not convinced? Mountain Vista, which two years ago won only five games, broke through the walls of the elite and finished with the best regular-season record.

And if that's not enough, glancing at the 2007 edition of the Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado team should solidify it, with players from seven schools making up the team.

"It was so cool to see an equal playing field," said Cherry Creek's Steph Pepper, the All-Colorado player of the year. "Colorado is making a name for itself on a national level."

Solid players bred great competition, which resulted in Brian Nutter's Mountain Vista team making the biggest splash this season.

Coaches around the state knew the Golden Eagles would be improved after making the playoffs for the first time in the program's fourth year. No one, though, Nutter included, could have predicted what the Eagles accomplished in their fifth season: a 13-1-1 regular- season record that included two wins against the eventual champion Bruins.

The plan for Nutter, the coach of the year, has been simple all along.

"Two years ago, did I expect us to be where we are at right now? I really don't know," said Nutter, who coached alongside wife Kathy at Kent Denver before planting the Eagles program. "I was definitely shooting for it and it is a wonderful surprise.

"A step a year is always a good goal, the way I look at it. So far, we've accomplished those things. It makes it tough for next year, though."

It might not be tough to repeat success as long as Britney Ryan is on the field, though. Ryan, a junior who took up field hockey for the first time only a year ago, scorched teams for 23 goals and seven assists. She is joined by senior Jess Webb, who, with eight goals and six assists, also was an offensive threat.

Mountain Vista made strides, but Cherry Creek won its second championship behind Pepper, a senior bound for Boston University who switched from a defensive midfielder to center-mid this season and excelled.

"It was a perfect senior season," Pepper said. "I think I really improved my communication and my confidence. We had a really good team dynamic and it allowed me to be more comfortable talking to someone without thinking that I was yelling at them."

Added Nutter, who has worked with Pepper in the past: "She's a tenacious little player. She really works hard within the game and cares about the team."

Keleigh McLaughlin joins Pepper on the team after leading the Bruins in scoring (11 goals, 15 assists).

Colorado Academy, behind a large group of talented seniors, finished state runner-up for the fourth consecutive season. Among those seniors, goalkeeper Courtney Engle and midfielder Kerry Ergen had standout seasons.

Kent Denver's championship run ended, but the level of talent didn't drop off. Allison Bathgate anchored a stingy defense, and Heather Karpas was a primary offensive threat.

Smoky Hill's Melissa Jones captained a top backfield and Ellen Hackstaff helped lead St. Mary's Academy to the playoffs with an uncanny ability to find her open teammates. Equally impressive at the center-mid position was Denver East's Ainslie O'Neil, who scored nine goals and assisted on seven for the Angels.

All-Colorado field hockey

Player School Year

Allison Bathgate Kent Denver Sr.

Courtney Engle (GK) Colo. Academy Sr.

Kerry Ergen Colo. Academy Sr.

Ellen Hackstaff St. Mary's Acad. Jr.

Melissa Jones Smoky Hill Sr.

Heather Karpas Kent Denver Sr.

Keleigh McLaughlin Cherry Creek Sr.

Ainslie O'Neil Denver East Sr.

Steph Pepper Cherry Creek Sr.

Britney Ryan Mountain Vista Jr.

Jess Webb Mountain Vista Sr.

* Player of the year: Steph Pepper, Cherry Creek*Coach of the year: Brian Nutter, Mountain Vista

* Honorable mention: Ali Abramovitz, Colorado Academy, Sr.o Laura Beuhner, Mountain Vista, Sr.o Katie Boileau, Fort Collins, Sr.o Kappner Clark, St. Mary's Academy, Sr.o Kate Colbert, Cherry Creek, Sr.o Katie Delaney, Kent Denver, Sr.o Ali Ellickson, Cherry Creek, Jr.o Natalie Hackstaff, St. Mary's Academy, Jr.o Elizabeth Hart, Cherry Creek, Sr.o Lisa Henderson, Lewis-Palmer, Sr.o Alexx Hoholik, Kent Denver, Jr.o Kristi Irgens, Smoky Hill, Sr.o Leah Isaman, Grandview, Jr.o Eliot Jackson, Fountain Valley, Jr.o Anna Kite, St. Mary's Academy, Jr.o Annie Pietenpol, Fort Collins, Sr.o Catherine Quinn, Colorado Academy, Sr.o Sophie Recca, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr.o Olivia Ross, Colorado Academy, Sr.o Lexi Sigler, Denver East, Sr.o J.J. Smith, Grandview, Sr.o Kate Spring, Mountain Vista, Sr.o Emily Voss, Smoky Hill, Jr.o Carly Wagner, Smoky Hill, Sr.o Liz Williamson, Fort Collins, Sr.