GREENWOOD VILLAGE — The topsy-turvy world of Colorado field hockey this season has had upsets occurring at a much higher frequency than in past seasons. For the state's elite teams, it is the response to those upsets that perhaps make them stand out.

For Georgia Grey and the rest of her teammates at Colorado Academy, an overtime loss to St. Mary's Academy earlier this week might turn their season around for the better.

It is certainly beginning to look that way for the No. 4 Mustangs after a 3-2 overtime win against No. 5 Smoky Hill on Thursday night. The Mustangs were rejuvenated offensively against a tough Buffaloes defense, something that Grey said the team can credit to the week's earlier happenings.

"(Losing to St. Mary's Academy) was definitely a wake-up call and we wanted to show (Thursday) that we are a good team that is capable of getting to the top," said Grey, who scored the winning goal.

In a game where every goal was scored off a penalty corner, Colorado Academy dominated the penalty chances with an 11-5 edge for the game. While both teams played solid in the mid-field, the Mustangs exuded enough passing control to generate more opportunities.

Grey's winner was scored quickly in the overtime. After she sent the penalty corner feed to the top of the circle, Grey simply set herself right on the closest post and waited for a chance. That came when Catherine Quinn rocketed a pass intended for Kerry Ergen. Ergen grazed the ball on the one-timer but Grey was there to follow it up.

"We showed (Thursday) that our hockey and our team chemistry can really win games," Grey added.

Ergen scored both goals in regulation, including a controversial goal that gave the Mustangs a short-lived 2-1 lead in the second half. Ergen's rocket cleared the cage quickly, giving the appearance that it hit the post, but the referee closest to the play gave the goal. The other official did not overrule the call.

The deficit seemed to spark the Buffaloes, who tied the game back up at 2-2 with a quick strike from Kellen Morrisey.

Smoky Hill, who was without injured senior captain Kristi Irgens, was outshot 9-5 for the game.

"Our players all felt that it didn't go in," Smoky Hill head coach Jenny Perizzolo said. "We don't have instant replay, and we have to go with the officials. But it gave us good practice in playing from behind and being able to come back."

The Buffaloes were stout even without Irgens, something which the team will have to deal with the remainder of the season.

"It's a tough loss but I see it as a real positive that they can play without Kristi on the field," Perizzolo said.



Colorado Academy 1 1 1 — 3

Smoky Hill 0 2 0 — 2

Goals-assists — CA, Kerry Ergen 2-0, Georgia Grey 1-0, Catherine Quinn 0-2; SH, Chelsea Harlan 1-0, Kellen Morrisey 1-0, Emily Voss 0-1, Natajsa Trujillo 0-1.

Shots on goal — CA 9, SH 5. Goalie saves — CA, Courtney Engle 0-3-0 — 3; SH, Carly Wagner 2-1-0 — 3 (3 team saves). Corners — CA 11, SH 5.