4A Girls Soccer: Dynasty of Cougars as Evergreen Wins Three-peat

COLORADO SPRINGS — The number of the night Tuesday at Switchbacks’ Weidner Field in Colorado Springs was … Three.

A 3-0 victory for Evergreen over Mullen gave the Cougars their third straight Class 4A girls soccer state champion and pushed being the 4A state runner-up three of five seasons from 2017 to 2021 a distant memory. 

“I think Evergreen (soccer) has always been a strong program. No doubt about that,” said Evergreen senior Gianna Weiner, who had two older sisters on those state runner-up teams. “Something about the team chemistry that we created is very different from my sisters. Both lost a state championship their senior year. Going out on a good note is something I’ll always cherish.”

Mullen came into the 4A title game as the No. 12 seed, but the Mustangs hadn’t played like their seed. Mullen shut out its first four playoff opponents, including a second-round 2-0 road victory over No. 5 Durango. 

However, the two-time defending state champions ended Mullen’s scoreless streak in a hurry. Weiner scored 42 seconds into the game on an assist from senior Nadia Leunig to give the No. 6 Cougars a quick 1-0 lead.

“It was a bit surreal. I didn’t know how this game was going to go,” said Weiner, who had been sick for the majority of the day. “We knew we had to attack them early because they are a good offensive team. We talked about putting pressure on them early. Nobody talked about scoring 42 seconds into the game.”

Evergreen (14-2-3 record) found its scoring touch in the playoffs. The Cougars scored 19 goals in their five playoff games. 

“I think we really emphasize being as clean as possible. Really being ruthless,” Leunig said of the offense turning the corner after the scoreless draw against Standley Lake on April 7. “I think the games that we got off on the front foot we were really successful. Getting that first goal has really been helpful for us.”

Weiner, who finished her season senior with 20 goals and 17 assists, set up sophomore Maija Alper for her first goal of her high school career. Alper ran up on a long pass from Weiner and put it into the back of the net in the 23rd minute to give Evergreen a 2-0 lead at halftime.

Mullen had a number of scoring chances during the game, but couldn’t get anything past Evergreen junior goalie Avery Mahnken. 

“I’m really proud of our defense,” Weiner said. “They played really well against Rampart and they did it again. Avery played exceptional. She came up with some big saves.”

Mahnken has a remarkable 15-0 career playoff record in net for Evergreen. 

“It feels really good. Especially with this senior class,” Mahnken said of the 3-peat. “This is very special for them. This such a cool experience.”

Junior Elle Buenning put the game out of reach with her goal in the 60th minute to push the lead to 3-0. 

“Elle Buenning had struggled all year with injuries and stuff, but I knew she is a big player,” Evergreen coach Peter Jeans said of the 2-sport athlete (basketball and soccer). “She scored two big goals in the semis and final with the third goal in each game. There are great individual stories for sure.”

The story for next year — Can Evergreen will an unprecedented fourth consecutive state championship? 

“It is definitely one of those situation where we have a lot of big shoes to fill, but I feel if we work hard enough we could have a chance again,” Mahnken said of a possible 4-peat next year for the Cougars.

For now, Evergreen can bask in the glow of a third straight championship than now overshadows the state championship disappointment from years past.

“It requires resilience and purpose,” Jeans said of the Cougars playing in six state championship games over the last nine 4A title games played. “These kids showed boatloads of both of those things. They had the weight of expectations returning a really good team. Everyone was asking them all season if they were going to 3-peat. You have to show up and do the work. We played our best two games the last two games of the year.”