In final season’s playoffs, the No. 2-seeded Mountain Ridge Sentinels have been upset by No. 10-seeded Olympus within the quarterfinals regardless of having solely misplaced one sport within the common season.
This season, the Sentinels discover themselves on mission to show that final yr’s upset loss was only a fluke — they usually’re making a reasonably sturdy case.
Of their Tuesday night matchup with Herriman — the one different staff to beat Mountain Ridge final yr — the Sentinels managed to strengthen their place as one of many state’s greatest groups with a commanding 20-4 victory over the Mustangs on the street.
With the win, the Sentinels have been capable of keep the momentum they’ve seized following a loss to 6A’s top-ranked Skyridge on March 18. Because the defeat, Mountain Ridge has gained 5 straight video games, outscoring its opponents by 80 mixed objectives throughout the streak (98-18).
Head coach Angie Brescia stated that the loss to Skyridge was the perfect factor that might’ve occurred to her squad, and given the staff’s current outcomes, it’s onerous to dispute that declare.
“Final season we didn’t have a loss till Herriman in the direction of the top of the season,” Brescia stated. “So going up in opposition to powerful competitors and really seeing what it's essential to work on that early (within the season) has been a sport changer for us. We’ve been capable of deal with our weaknesses and we’ll be higher ready and improved every sport due to that.”
Squaring off in opposition to the Mustangs, it regarded as if the Sentinels had no weak point as they defended and attacked at a excessive stage all through the match.
Conceding two objectives in eight minutes to start out the sport, Mountain Ridge put the clamps on and outscored Herriman 16-2 over the remaining 42 minutes of gameplay.
With two freshmen beginning within the protection, Brescia stated that the staff’s protection has been a piece in progress, however it's lastly beginning to discover its groove.
Serving to the protection within the again was senior goalkeeper Bekah Bargeron, whose household moved to Mountain Ridge boundaries from Viewmont throughout her last yr of eligibility. Bargeron got here up with loads of essential saves throughout Tuesday’s sport, together with 4 saves on penalty pictures.
Brescia stated that having Bargeron transfer into the world has been a blessing that she plans on taking full benefit of.
“Having Bekah (in aim) is freaking enormous for us,” Brescia stated. “She’s a pure chief, she sees the entire area for us, and she or he’s been nice at speaking and serving to these new gamers see the place they should be. … However she had some superb saves for us as we speak.”
Protection wasn’t the one space the place the Sentinels thrived. With eight completely different gamers making their means onto the scoresheet, the staff confirmed that they've a number of gamers who get themselves a aim.
Senior Morgan Mackey led the way in which, scoring a game-high six objectives for the Sentinels. Mackey was adopted by Emmery Clark (4 objectives), in addition to Aubrie Shaw, Paige Runia, Tessa Mortensen and Kiarra Clarin, who scored two objectives apiece.
Runia additionally managed to notch a game-high three assists for Mountain Ridge.
The Mustangs have been led by junior Morgan Eldredge, who recorded two objectives and an help for her facet.
Brescia stated that having a wide range of attackers who can discover the again of the online will make Mountain Ridge that a lot more durable to cease.
“I've confidence that each single attacker we put out there may be going to attain,” Brescia stated. “When the opposite staff focuses on shutting one participant down, then it’s simply creating alternatives for the opposite ladies.”
Now sitting at 6-1 on the season, the Sentinels — who at the moment are the fourth-ranked staff within the 6A RPI — will proceed to work to avenge what they felt was a disappointing exit from final yr’s postseason.
“Olympus was a head sport for us they usually simply couldn’t snap out of it that day,” Brescia stated. “They don’t need that to occur once more they usually’re doing the whole lot of their energy to not solely turn out to be stronger bodily, however stronger mentally as nicely. The sport is a psychological sport and whoever desires it extra goes to get it — and our staff undoubtedly desires it.”