Green Mountain girls lacrosse ready for another run at a state title

LAKEWOOD — Green Mountain senior Kara Harris won’t have to worry about playing a home lacrosse game in a driving spring snowstorm next year.

“I am so excited to get out of the snow,” said Harris, who has signed to continue her lacrosse career at Arizona State University next school year. 

Green Mountain battled Air Academy on Thursday night in a fast moving snowstorm that hit Trailblazer Stadium. The Rams took a 11-7 victory. The game was called after three quarters when it became an official game.

“These conditions were not fun,” Green Mountain coach Savannah Phillips said. “It probably would have been a much different game if the conditions were vastly different. Nothing like Colorado spring weather.”

Air Academy (1-5 record) actually held a 6-5 lead with just under 4 minutes remaining in the second quarter after back-to-back goals by freshman Ilene Badget. However, the Rams (5-3) responded with a goal by senior Romi Villani and a pair of tallies by junior Kya Cooper just before halftime to give Green Mountain a 8-6 halftime lead as the snow started to accumulate on the field.

“If we could get the score up knowing it might be stopped after the third quarter,” Phillips said of the Rams’ 6-1 scoring run to close out the game. “Whatever we need to do to get the job done. That is what is most important to us.”

The officials stopped the game with around 5 minutes to play in the third quarter with the Rams leading 11-7. The coaches, officials and stadium manager agreed to finish out the quarter and reevaluate the playing conditions after the third quarter.

The snow intensified and the game was called after the third quarter.

It was the second straight win for the Rams this week after back-to-back losses to Regis and Mead the previous week.

“It’s exciting. We have a very strong team,” Phillips said. “We are even stronger on the leadership scale. We drive home those buzz words like … unified, communicate, composure and creativity.”

Phillips is the third different head coach for the Rams’ girls lacrosse program over the past three years. Green Mountain won the Class 4A state championship back in 2022. The Rams lost in the semifinals in 2023. Eventual state champion Evergreen knocked Green Mountain out in the 4A state quarterfinals last year.

“We have new girls coming in,” Harris said. “I hope they will play a big role, especially the freshmen in helping us get back to a state title.”

While the Rams have some young talent coming it, they also have one of the most experienced and dangerous offensive attack in 4A. Seniors Avery Freedman (26 goals), Villani (28 goals), Harris (31 goals) and Cooper (29 goals) present plenty of problems for opponents. 

Harris hit the 200th career goal mark and Villani tallied her 100th career assist earlier this season.

“It really means a lot,” Harris said of scoring her 200th career goal in a 19-7 victory over Columbine. “I’ve work extra hard, especially this year and last year to help get this team to where it is now. I hope we can get to a state title.”

Villani, Freedman and Harris all played significant roles as freshmen on the 2022 state championship team.

“This marks the halfway point,” Phillips said with seven regular-season games remaining for the Rams. “We have a ton of lacrosse left to play, but we are just getting started.”

Green Mountain is on the road next week to face Denver South (2-4) on Thursday, April 10. The Rams get into 4A West League play against Conifer on April 15.