ENGLEWOOD | The Smoky Hill field hockey team’s resurgent season earned the program a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2014.
The Buffaloes — a collection of athletes from Smoky Hill, Cherokee Trail and Eaglecrest — snapped a 75-game winless streak for the program earlier in the season and coach Lisa Griffiths’ team added two more victories to get one of four play-in spots.
Smoky Hill went on the road to face St. Mary’s Academy Oct. 24 with a spot in an opening round contest against Mountain Vista going to the victory. The host Wildcats tallied at least one goal in all four quarters on their way to a 5-2 victory that brought the Buffs’ season to end with a 3-12-1 record.
Sophomore Elyse Bailey scored both goals for Smoky Hill in the play-in contest as she carried possession in from the wing and score at point blank range in the third quarter and she converted a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter as well.
St. Mary’s Academy advanced to a first round state playoff matchup with eighth-seeded Mountain Vista.
Liberty defeated Dakota Ridge 3-0 in the other play-in contest.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
