Green Mountain girls lacrosse pours it on in playoff opener

LAKEWOOD — The defending Class 4A girls lacrosse state champions made a clear statement Thursday night.

The No. 5-seeded Green Mountain Rams dominated No. 12 Rampart 24-5 in the second-round playoff game in the pouring rain at Trailblazer Stadium. 

Green Mountain’s potent offense had six different players score multiple goals. Sophomores Avery Freedman and Kara Harris had six goals each to lead the way. Senior Sophie Warren added four goals. Junior Ellen Khatsianevich and freshman Kya Cooper put in a trio of scores. Sophomore Rome Villani finished off the scoring with two goals.

“Our scoring group is similar to last year,” Green Mountain coach Gia Lombardi said after the victory. “As the season has gone on they have really connected and they have build that chemistry. Now it is at that level that I’m very confident about how we are going to move into playoffs.”

The Rams (11-5 record) had 13 unanswered goals in over the span of five minutes in the first half to take a commanding 14-1 lead. Green Mountain held a 17-3 lead at halftime.

Green Mountain senior goalie Gretchen Hoffman was in net for the Rams in their seventh straight victory.

“I think we still played to our level,” Lombardi said of the 19-goal victory. “I think it was a really good game for us to get some momentum and keep taking that through playoffs.”

Green Mountain could have a very similar run in the playoffs as last year’s run to the 4A state championship. The Rams were the No. 5 seed last season and defeated the No. 4, No. 1 and No. 2 seeds on their way to the championship.

“I think we’ve got a shot. I think we have a good seed,” Warren said as the Rams began their postseason journey after a first-round bye. “I think we can make it pretty far.”

Lombardi, who moved into the head coaching position this year after being an assistant coach last year, had six seniors that has mixed in well with some young talent along with four girls who are on the team who is playing lacrosse for the first time.

“This is a brand-new season. This is a new team,” Lombardi said. “Last year was amazing. We want to take that energy, but we aren’t going to build our expectations of that. We are going to do what this team can do and build off of that.”

Up next for Green Mountain will be a road game Saturday, May 13, against No. 4 Denver South (11-5). The Ravens defeated Durango 18-3 on Thursday in their second-round game.

Denver South and Green Mountain actually faced off in the first game of the year for both teams on March 9. The Ravens won 17-12.

“I think we have a good mix of girls, a lot of different talent,” Warren said. “I think we have a good team to make it far.”