Smoky Hill's Samantha Howshar ties the game at 1-1 against Doherty with a penalty kick during the first round of the 5A girls soccer championships on May 5, 2015, at Cherry Creek High School. The Buffaloes went on to score two second-half goals in a 3-1 victory. (Photo by Gabriel Christus/Aurora Sentinel)
Smoky Hill’s Samantha Howshar ties the game at 1-1 against Doherty with a penalty kick during the first round of the 5A girls soccer championships on May 5, 2015, at Cherry Creek High School. The Buffaloes went on to score two second-half goals in a 3-1 victory. (Photo by Gabriel Christus/Aurora Sentinel)
Smoky Hill’s Samantha Howshar ties the game at 1-1 against Doherty with a penalty kick during the first round of the 5A girls soccer championships on May 5, 2015, at Cherry Creek High School. The Buffaloes went on to score two second-half goals in a 3-1 victory. (Photo by Gabriel Christus/Aurora Sentinel)

GREENWOOD VILLAGE | Using resiliency that often comes from navigating the Centennial League, the Smoky Hill girls soccer team rallied Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

Eighteenth-seeded Doherty scored just 37 seconds into the first round contest with the 15th-seeded Buffaloes at Stutler Bowl, but Smoky Hill responded with three unanswered scores in the remaining 79:23 of the contest on its way to a 3-1 victory.

Junior Sam Howshar tied the game in the first half and coach Wes Post’s Buffaloes (10-5-1) scored twice in the deciding second half to earn a second matchup against Centennial League rival Grandview. The second-seeded Wolves — who won the first meeting 1-0 — downed No. 31 Hinkley 5-0 in their first round contest.

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel

(15) SMOKY HILL 3, (18) DOHERTY 1

Score by halves:

Doherty       1  0 — 1

Smoky Hill  1  2 — 3

Full Class 5A girls soccer state playoff scoreboard & schedule, here.

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...