Nemesis ends Bears’ season
DENVER – After a spectacular goal in the opening minutes on Wednesday, Palmer Ridge coach Paul Lewis thought his team was well on its way back to the field hockey state championship game.
Instead, Colorado Academy settled in and made history.
Shannon Snediker had a goal to go along with a dazzling assist in the second minute, but the Bears fell 4-2 in the state semifinals at All-City Stadium.
Lewis said it was the Bears’ inability to finish chances that eventually sunk them.
“It’s a game where you got to put that ball in the net,” Lewis said.
Colorado Academy did.
The 16-0-1 Mustangs scored two goals in the span of five minutes to take the lead midway through the first half. And later, they added two more in the second half to become first team in Colorado to go to five straight state title games in field hockey.
Their win also marked the fifth straight time they eliminated Palmer Ridge (11-4-1) from the postseason, which includes last season’s 2-0 win in the state championship.
“We definitely had the opportunity to come out and win this game,” senior captain Edie Statham said with tears in her eyes. “This was one of the best games we’ve ever played, and to not get the ending we wanted is really emotional.”
It started well for the Bears.
Snediker sidestepped two defenders near the far goal post and sent a crossing pass behind keeper Bridget Sutter, along the goal line. Sydney Chytka then finished it to put the Bears up 1-0 with 28:33 left in the first half.
“We had all the momentum,” Lewis said.
Later, Snediker scored to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 24:04 remaining. But the Bears missed on a series of chances to tie the game late.
“We’ve always had a problem finishing our goals,” Snediker said. “We’ve gotten better but we still miss them.”
Colorado Academy’s Clara Petch had a goal and two assists. She set up Emma Richards’ second goal of the game that pushed the lead to 3-1 early in the second half.
Later, Nellie Turnage made it 4-2 with 4:44 remaining.
Now, all Palmer Ridge can do is look to next year.
“I think we will beat them next year,” Snediker said.
