MONUMENT | Netting the first state playoff victory in program history will have to wait another year for the Regis Jesuit field hockey team, which lost to Palmer Ridge 4-0 in a quarterfinal contest Thursday.
The fifth-seeded Raiders fell in the first round of the postseason for the fourth straight season, this time at the hands of the fourth-seeded Bears (11-4), who scored twice in both halves to win the meeting at Don Brees Stadium.
Palmer Ridge — which got a hat trick from Jessica Berg and another goal from Mikayla Martin, plus three assists from the state’s leading scorer, Daelynn Demello — advanced to the semifinals to play No. 1 Colorado Academy (15-0) in a game scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at All-City Stadium in Denver.
No. 2 Kent Denver and No. 3 Cherry Creek meet in the other semifinal at 7:15 p.m. The Sun Devils (13-1-1) held off No. 7 St. Mary’s Academy 1-0 in the quarterfinals, while the Bruins (12-3-1) outlasted sixth-seeded Denver East 3-2.
Coach Spencer Wagner’s Regis Jesuit team had its five-game winning streak snapped, but finished 10-6 with the first double-digit win total in program history.
Sophomore goalie Claire Stemper faced 20 shots from Palmer Ridge and saved 16 of them. She also made 16 saves when the Bears topped the Raiders 3-1 on Sept. 28.
Regis Jesuit’s offense generated six total shots — with senior Kat Law taking four of them — but the Raiders were shut out for only the third time all season.
(4) PALMER RIDGE 4, (5) REGIS JESUIT 0
Score by halves:
Regis Jesuit 0 0 — 0
Palmer Ridge 2 2 — 4
Palmer Ridge goals: Jessica Berg 3, Mikayla Martin. Palmer Ridge assists: Daelynn Demello 3, Ashley Walker 1. Regis Jesuit saves: Claire Stemper 16 saves, 4 goals against; Palmer Ridge saves: Cheradyn Petit 4 saves, 0 goals against
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel.
