5A girls lacrosse: Colorado Academy dynasty continues with eighth-straight title

No matter how many state championships come, the Colorado Academy girls lacrosse team enjoys them all to the fullest.

Even though they had won the last seven state titles in a row, the 11-6 victory over sixth-seeded Regis Jesuit Friday night at hazy Peter Barton Stadium sent the top-seeded Mustangs into wild jubilation.

It wasn’t just any state title, but one in which the program navigated a coaching change and still finished off an undefeated season with another title, which brings Colorado Academy to within one of matching Cherry Creek’s state-leading count of 10 state titles.

“It feels great, doing it with a new coach and doing it for our seniors was amazing this year,” said junior Zoe Martin, who scored three times in the game and was one of six different goal scorers in another extremely balanced offensive attack for the Mustangs (19-0), who upped their postseason winning streak to 31 games dating back to the 2014 season.

Indeed, Sonarah Hunter knew the expectation level when she took over the reins from Laura Sandblom in the offseason and she found a group that was receptive to something different.

The Mustangs grew and adapted and came out on top yet again.

“With a new coach, for them being so open to having myself come in and listening and developing relationships was big,” Hunter said. “Change is so hard to do, so for them to be able to be open and buy in was super special, on top of winning state.”

That state title didn’t come easily, however, as Regis Jesuit wasn’t happy with merely being in the state championship game for the first time.

Like pretty much every other Colorado Academy opponent this season, the Raiders found themselves in a good-sized hole right off the bat as Martin and fellow junior Alex May scored within the first two-plus minutes and the Mustangs went up 4-0 near the midway point of the half.

But senior Emily Bradac scored a pair of goals and senior Ava Rogala also tallied for Regis Jesuit (12-5), which gained some momentum despite facing a 7-3 halftime deficit.

Bradac and senior Charlotte Ford scored back-to-back goals as well in the second half for coach Crysti Foote’s Raiders, who refused to go away.

“They were amazing, they were definitely a good team and they came for some of our weaknesses,” Martin said. “They have some amazing players.”

The difficulty in completing a comeback against Colorado Academy is that the Mustangs do such a good job of limiting possessions for their opponents.
Even after Regis Jesuit closed the gap a couple of times, it never got closer than three, as time and time again Colorado Academy got a key win on the draw or face-off that helped to keep a comfortable margin.

“I do feel like we fought for those possessions, they aren’t just a given,” Hunter said. “Our offensive was poised and held onto the ball. It’s hard work and we put in the time so we have the possession and are making adjustments.”

Junior Charlotte Corkins — who missed last season with a torn ACL — scored three times in the second half, usually at the end of long possessions, as the Mustangs finished the game off.

When it was over, Colorado Academy fans streamed over the railing and onto the field for a celebration that looked as fresh as if it was the first one and not the ninth all-time.

“My intention from the beginning was to enjoy every moment, the ups and the downs and the highs and the lows,” said senior captain Anna Colpack, who is headed to Stanford to play lacrosse. “This team is incredible and I’m so grateful for everything that happened this year.”

With a core made up largely of juniors, Colorado Academy is already looking to the future.

“Next year, it’s going to be fun to lead the team,” Martin said. “I think we’re all just excited for another year of lacrosse with CA.”