Evergreen seniors leave a lasting legacy with back-to-back girls lacrosse state titles

DENVER — Within the span of 36 hours, Evergreen’s seven seniors on the Cougars’ girls lacrosse team graduated and picked up a second straight Class 4A state title.

“It was amazing,” Evergreen senior Addison McEvers said of repeating as state champions with a dominating 19-6 victory over rival Green Mountain on Friday night. “We played like we did in the last state championship game against Mead. We played as hard as we could. We knew this was the last time for us playing together.”

McEvers — 3-sport athlete in flag football, basketball and lacrosse at Evergreen — went out on top as the Cougars repeated as state champions.

“Winning a state championship is like no other,” McEvers said as the Cougars celebrated on Peter Barton Stadium at the University of Denver. “A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to win those or get close. We have a special team and we were able to pull it out. I’m so proud of us.”

McEvers was just recently named the 4A Jeffco Female Athlete of the Year to cap off her impressive four years as a student-athlete. The senior also picked up her 100th career goal in the state title game.

“Ryn Gardner was like, ‘We have to get Addison that goal.’ It took a couple takes to get there, but what I one to get,” Evergreen coach Rachel Sanford said.

Gardner, a junior, has been the beneficiary of a lot of hard work by McEvers, who takes nearly every draw for the Cougars. Gardner had a game-high seven goals in the championship game. 

McEvers will continue her lacrosse career playing Division I women’s lacrosse at High Point University in North Carolina.

“It’s great to go out on a high like this in my No. 1 sport,” said McEvers. “It’s amazing. I’m so excited.”

Senior Alivia Hunsche had another stellar game on both ends of the field scoring a pair of goals and locking down some of Green Mountain’s top scorers on the defensive end.

“It means so much to us,” Hunsche said of the senior class going out as state champions. “The entire senior class has been playing together since we were in first grade. It means so much to finish out with this amazing win.”

Hunsche will continue her lacrosse career at the University of Tampa. The Spartans are attempting to be back-to-back Division II National Champions. Tampa will be playing in the D-II quarterfinals Saturday, May 17, in Tampa, Florida.

“They are just as special as special can be,” Sanford said of her outgoing senior class. “They have been playing for a long time. They have great chemistry on and off the field. They have made such an impact on this program.”

The senior class came in as freshmen the year after Evergreen won its first girls lacrosse state title in 2021. The Cougars won four straight 4A West League titles having never lost a conference game in four years. Evergreen compiled a 55-18 record and who a pair of state championship over the four-year span.

“We just did a final cheer with them and it kind of makes you cry a little bit,” Sanford said. “Thinking about the legacy they will leave behind and also the bright futures they have ahead.”