Ryn Gardner spearheads Evergreen girls lacrosse quest for a state three-peat

LAKEWOOD — The girls lacrosse pipeline from Evergreen High School to the University of Colorado continues.

Evergreen senior Ryn Gardner will join former teammates Averi Gardner (sister) and Bella Reece next season on CU’s women’s lacrosse team. Ryn, who is closing in on 300 career goals for the Cougars, is fired up about head up to Boulder in a handful of months.

“I love the coaches and they are doing amazing this year,” Gardner said of CU women’s lacrosse that is ranked No. 12 in the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse RPI and off to a 7-2 record. “I love Boulder. I think it’s a sick town and a great community. I’m super excited.”

However, Gardner has one last opportunity at Evergreen to lift a Class 4A girls lacrosse state trophy for the third time. The Cougars are coming off back-to-back 4A state titles with Gardner being the leading goal scorer each of the previous two seasons.

“It has come so fast and obviously this year it’s a different team,” Gardner said as her prep career is nearing an end. “I’m really excited, but it is a different feeling with a big graduating class last year. It still feels fun. Hopefully we can make it really far.”

Gardner helped to give the Cougars a good start coming out of Spring Break. The CU-commit scored 9 goals in Evergreen’s 20-9 victory over Chatfield on Tuesday night at Trailblazer Stadium.

The senior’s final goal Tuesday was a nifty no-look shot over her left shoulder.

“Ryn has been a dominate players since her freshman year,” Evergreen coach Rachel Sanford said. “It is fun to see where she is at now and happy to have her stay in-state so we root for her in college.”

Evergreen (2-3 record) graduated eight starters from last year’s team and got off to an 0-3 start this season with losses to Class 5A powerhouses Kent Denver, Fairview and Colorado Academy.

“I don’t think we let that affect us,” Gardner said of the 0-3 start. “Typically when we come back from Spring Break it’s go time. I feel like before Spring Break it’s our mini-preseason. Once we get that out of the way we normally go on a run and go on to do big things.”

One of the biggest shoes the Cougars have had to fill is the graduation of Neva Mertsching, who was a 4-year starting goalie for Evergreen. Sophomore Logan Lamont picked up the win in net against Chatfield. Freshman Rae Pegues has also got time in net for the Cougars.

“That is a big whole for us,” Sanford said of losing Mertsching. “But we have a freshman and sophomore that is scrapping and fighting for it. That is fun to see.”

Juniors Grace Lessig (31 goals last season) and Addison White (18 goals last season) will surround Gardner with some varsity experience. The Cougars will rely on a very large freshman class to fill roles.

The last time Evergreen got out to a 2-3 start was in 2024. The Cougars eventually went on to win the 4A state title. Evergreen repeated as 4A state champs last year with a 16-2 record and dominating run in the postseason to seal the back-to-back state titles.

“That actually feels more encouraging hearing that,” Sanford said when she was reminded that the 2024 state championship team started with a 2-3 record. “You kind of take it year-by-year. You would like to be competing for a state championship, that is always the goal. But there is so much stuff to do between now and then.”

Evergreen hosts Jackson Hole (WY) on Friday, April 3. 

“We graduated a ton last year, so we are really trying to focus on the here and now,” Sanford said. “We had a hard start to the season. We are happy we have rebounded and showing up for the games in front of us.”

With only Dakota Ridge, Golden, Green Mountain and Evergreen in the 4-team 4A West League the Cougars won’t have their league opener until April 16 against Dakota Ridge. 

“We want to compete with the best,” Sanford said of the goal this season. “Hopefully we are playing for a state championship, but if not, we’ll go down swinging.”