The Cherry Creek field hockey team is certainly not accustomed to losing to the same opponent twice in a season, let alone three times.

Top-seeded Mountain Vista had the opportunity to score a trifecta against the Bruins, in the state field hockey semifinals Wednesday night, but Cherry Creek used a strong second half to avoid disaster, winning 2-1.

After losing both regular-season games to the Golden Eagles, the Bruins got one back when it mattered most to advance to their third championship game.

"Going into (the game), we knew we obviously didn't have the upper hand," Cherry Creek's McKenzie Brown said. "But we were ambitious and we had the right mind-set."

Despite trailing early, the Bruins were dominant offensively but couldn't get on the board until a late second-half surge.

Cherry Creek had six first-half shots but couldn't get the ball past goalie Laura Buehner. Buehner continued to keep Cherry Creek in check into the second half, breaking up two odd-man rushes by coming out of the goal before the Bruins were able to get set up.

Cherry Creek (13-3) capitalized on penalty corner opportunities to get the win.

Brown knocked in a rebound shot with 17:12 left to tie the score at 1, and Leslie Brentlinger scored the winner just 4 minutes later on another penalty corner opportunity.

"The second half we were definitely pumped," Brentlinger said. "We knew that we could do it, but it was just a matter of putting it together and getting it done."

It looked early as if Mountain Vista might run away with the game, as senior Kate Spring took advantage of an early opportunity.

The Eagles controlled the first few minutes of possession, and Spring made it count when a low distant shot of hers sneaked through a cluttered shooting circle 5 minutes into the game.

But the offensive prowess of Mountain Vista quickly withered. The Eagles (13-2-1) managed possession in their offensive zone throughout, but they could only get four shots in the final 50 minutes of play.

"We always know that field hockey is a game of inches and that one goal is all it takes a lot of the time," Brown said. "(Playing from behind) motivated us even more."

Added Mountain Vista coach Brian Nutter, whose team was in its first semifinals: "It was one of those games that came down to mental fortitude. Cherry Creek has been here before, and that's kind of where it fell Wednesday. (My) girls have a lot to be proud of, though."

Cherry Creek......0	2	-	2
Mountain Vista......1	0	-	1

First half - MV, Kate Spring (Jess Webb assist), 25:16.

Second half - CC, McKenzie Brown (Keleigh McLaughlin assist), 17:12; CC, Leslie Brentlinger (Ali Ellikson assist), 13:08.

Shots on goal - Cherry Creek 6-6 - 12; Mountain Vista 3-3 - 6. Goalie saves - CC, Kate Colbert 2-3 - 5; MV, Laura Buehner 6-4 - 10. Penalty corners - CC 1-2 - 3, MV 2-3 - 5.

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