LONGMONT -- Caitlin Updyke showed Tuesday how strong defense leads to good offense.

The keeper for seventh-ranked Broomfield weathered an early onslaught by No. 8 Silver Creek, leading to her team`s 2-0 win.

For the first 20 minutes, Updyke was a wall in the net, turning away three solid looks before her team could muster a single shot.

"They wanted to come and punish us and we stuffed them," Updyke said.

The Broomfield keeper`s stand allowed her team to manifest a potent attack at the end of the first half. Sydney Kern and Hayli LaBadie sucked all the wind out Silver Creek`s sails, despite the windy conditions.

The forward tucked in back-to-back scores in the final three minutes of play after the team had previously fired just one shot on goal.

Kern sparked the onslaught, when Silver Creek`s keeper left the frame to challenge her in the 37th minute. Kern put the right touch on the ball, chipping it over the goalie`s head, allowing the wind from the west to do the rest.

Then LaBadie, with the wind at her back, pulled the trigger in the 38th minute, connecting on a strong cross-goal shot.

"We had a couple of chances and took them," Kern said. "I think that set us over."

Broomfield remained in the running for a share of the Northern League title with the win. But the Raptors tried their hardest to rebound and ruin the Eagles` chances.

After Broomfield jumped up at halftime, Silver Creek forward Kelli Drobney

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found her wheels. The freshman had two good looks at the goal and let two shots fly, but could not hit the mark.

Silver Creek`s best opportunity came early in the match, before Broomfield got on the board.

CC Rinehart was the spearhead of the Raptors` attack, cutting through the Eagles defense in the first 20 minutes of play. The striker never put a shot on frame herself, but set her teammates up on a number of quality attempts.

"Once they scored, we just got taken back," Rinehart said. "And we didn`t know what to do."