AURORA — When you’re the defending state champion, you have to be prepared for your opponent’s best game each and every time you take the field.

Yes, opening day included.

Regis Jesuit served notice to defending field hockey state champion Kent Denver that they could very well be a 2012 title contender as they played the Sun Devils even for 30-plus minutes.

Down 1-0, the Raiders’ Raina Cazier blasted a shot that appeared to deflect off a player and into the back of the net with 4 minutes, 10 seconds to play in the first half that knotted the score.

“That goal changed our whole mindset,” said Kent Denver’s Abby Godfrey, who scored both of her team’s goals.

Kent Denver responded with a strong second half showing in which they dominated possession and eventually pushed ahead for good on Godfrey’s second goal of the game as the Sun Devils opened the 2012 season with a 2-1 victory at Regis Jesuit High School on Aug. 30.

“I thought we played really well for the first game of the season,” Godfrey said. “We obviously have a few things we have to work out but other than that, I thought we did a really good job.”

Regis Jesuit coach Spencer Wagner was also happy with the way his team competed.

“The way we played in the first half was outstanding,” Wagner said. “In the second half Kent kind of owned the possession but (Abby Bradbury) made some great saves and our defense was good. I think playing a game like this against a really strong team will only give the girls more confidence as they head into the season.”

Godfrey, who opened the game’s scoring at the 17:49 mark of the first half off an assist from Nicole Campbell, managed to beat Bradbury again in the second half after a wild scrum in front of the Raiders’ goal.

“I’m not really sure, I kind of fell down over the goalie,” Godfrey said of the goal. “I think Nicole may have gotten that one.”