Green Mountain, Evergreen fall short in 4A girls lacrosse semifinals

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ENGLEWOOD — It was all about late-night dramatic victories May 17 at Englewood High School’s Randy Penn Stadium. No. 1-seeded Castle View and No. 2 Mead both scored 1-goal win over the last two Class 4A girls lacrosse state champions — Evergreen and Green Mountain — to punch their tickets to the title game.

Castle View scored its game-winning goal with 17 seconds against defending state champion and No. 5 Green Mountain to grab a 10-9 victory in the rst semi nal. Mead put in its game-winning goal with 5 seconds remaining versus the 2021 state champion and No. 3 Evergreen in a game that ended at 10:50 p.m. due to a more than an hour and a half lightning delay.

(2) Mead 13, (3) Evergreen 12

Mead mid elder Allie Hartman literally dropped the ball before putting in the game-winning goal into the back of the net against Evergreen.

With the semi nal tied 12-12, the Mavericks (15-2) held for nearly two minutes after winning a key faceo . Mead coaches call ‘Raptor” for the nal play, a play for Hartman — senior at Silver Creek High School who’s mascot is the Raptors — to drive and score.

Hartman started her drive with about 10 seconds to play. She dropped the ball for a split second before regaining it and getting past Evergreen senior Averi Gardner for an open look.

“We got the look that we wanted. I take pride in my drives,” said Hartman, who scored four of the Maverick’s six second-half goals. “It worked out.”

Hartman and junior Sierra Ryan carried the load o ensive for Mead in its 12th straight victory.

“We have so many sets,” Mead coach Katie Coleman said. “We always say that if we call out something that they don’t feel comfortable with that’s OK. We like to have options for them.” e Mavericks used the right options after trailing by as many as three goals in the rst half against the Cougars (11-7). Evergreen held

Allie Westfall Conifer High School

team, called Keep Conifer Green, as well as my National Honors Society for Dance Arts chapter at my dance studio. I am also working at Rocky Mountain Wraps in Conifer and as a dance teacher of aerial fabrics. Next year I will be attending UCLA for environmental science and hope to continue to be involved in sustainable living there.

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

involved with other jobs and clubs in my area. I am president of Conifer high school’s green

One of my most enduring memories from being in high school was of one of my nal days in AP chemistry during my junior year. With my teacher, Mr. Bunnell, we tie-dyed shirts and made soap bubbles that could be lit on re. Mr. Bunnell, as well as many of my other teachers at Conifer, have created amazing memories to take with me onto the next chapter of my life and I don’t think I could have made it through high school without them.

I have always been drawn towards the environment and feel that it is necessary for me, and my generation as a whole, to address the climate crisis and the vast a ects it will have on everyone. Going into environmental science, I hope to nd my niche in helping the planet whether that’s in renewable energy, reforestation, environmental policy, or any other helpful topic.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years I see myself working for a company helping to raise awareness of climate change as well as help society to transition to a carbonnegative way of living. No matter where I am living I want to in uence those around me to be better, more climate conscience people.