No. 4 Green Mountain ready for 4A boys lacrosse postseason run
LAKEWOOD — The first conference title in Green Mountain boys lacrosse history was just a stepping stone for what the Rams want to accomplish next week.
“For the past two years that is all we’ve talked about,” said Green Mountain coach Nate Hallahan about the Rams aiming for a Class 4A state playoff win.
The Rams (13-2, 5-0 in Class 4A Foothills League) closed out the regular season Friday night at Trailblazer Stadium with a 16-2 non-league win against Summit. They now turn their attention to accomplishing another first — a playoff victory. Green Mountain has had a varsity boys lacrosse program for just more than a decade.
“At the beginning of the year we set a goal of getting a playoff win,” Green Mountain senior attacker Karson Bell said. “We are definitely coming out fast and strong to get that win.”
Bell helped the Rams come out fast against Summit. Green Mountain raced out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Bell finished with a team-high six goals to move his tally to over 50 goals on the season. Junior Trey Towndrow added five goals in the win.
Junior Tanner Sark finished with a pair of goals while seniors Brandon Jacob, Tanner Wagner and Gavin Forrest had a goal each.
Goalie Ryan Burdi was solid in net to get the victory between the pipes. The senior has allowed three goals or less in nine games so far this season while establishing himself as one of the elite goalies in the state.
“It’s not only me. It’s definitely our defense too,” Burdi said. “Quinn Meinert has been holding the stud scorers to just one goal. Trey Corkin and Garren West have been doing awesome. It’s not only me.”
Burdi was instrumental in overtime victories against Evergreen and Golden to go undefeated in conference play.
“He (Burdi) wins games before they start because guys know him,” Hallahan said. “The net looks really small with him standing in there even if he isn’t a big guy. That kind of messes with teams. It mentally gets after guys.”
Success is nothing new for Green Mountain. Hallahan as guided the Rams to three straight winning seasons. Green Mountain has amassed a 37-8 record over the three-year stretch. Now it’s time for a postseason win.
“The heart we have with this team is just amazing,” Burdi said about heading into the playoffs next week. “I’m excited for sure.”
Last year, the Rams were shutout by Valor Christian in the first round. In 2017, Thompson Valley ended Green Mountain’s season in the first round.
The only losses during the regular season this year came to 5A’s Lakewood and 4A’s No. 3 Thompson Valley.
Green Mountain is guaranteed a spot in the 16-team state bracket and a first-round home game played on or before Wednesday, May 6, next week is likely for the Rams. Green Mountain was No. 5 in the RPI rankings before Friday’s game against Summit.
“That was for sure humbling,” Bell said of the 13-5 loss earlier this week against Thompson Valley. “Seeing what we’ll be going against (in playoffs) really helps us out. We know were we have to compete at.”
The Rams celebrated Senior Night at halftime against Summit. Green Mountain principal Colleen Owens was also on hand to present the 4A Foothills League trophy.
“It’s something I really wanted for our seniors,” Hallahan said of the league title. “The majority of those ten guys played varsity for four years.”
