DENVER - Triple overtime at Peter Barton Stadium is a long way from his backyard, but Colt Kugler knew what he had to do to come through Monday night.

The Cheyenne Mountain sophomore midfielder scooped up a groundball, raced in and scored the golden goal that gave his team a 7-6 victory over Evergreen in an intense Class 4A state championship game on the campus of the University of Denver.

Kugler’s goal snapped a scoring drought of more than 28 minutes of game time for the Red-Tailed Hawks, who survived a comeback from the Cougars to win the program’s first state championship since 2023 and fifth all-time.

“I knew the second we went to overtime, if I get the ball, I’m scoring,” Kugler said. “That’s a shot I’ve taken 1,000 times in my head in my backyard, so I was ready for it. I got the chance, picked up the groundball, and I don’t remember after that.”

Coach Sequoia Bowan’s ninth-seeded Cheyenne Mountain team looked like it might win the championship going away with its performance early in the game, as it took a seemingly commanding 5-0 lead midway through the second period.
A four-goal edge remained at halftime, but the second-seeded Cougars (15-4) grabbed the momentum in the third quarter.

Senior attackman Wyatt Cox scored just before halftime and then had three more goals for Evergreen, including the game-tying score with 4:50 left in the fourth quarter.

Both teams had multiple chances in the final stages, but were unable to get the go-ahead goal as Cheyenne Mountain senior goalie Walt Cameron and Evergreen sophomore Cody Cain stood strong.

Both goalies were also tested in two full four-minute overtime periods, where any shot was dangerous.

“That’s a worst nightmare for a goalie, especially in a state championship game,” Cameron said. “A single overtime is horrible, but three of them is even worse. It’s the most nervewracking thing. You just have to shut off your brain and just let your body react.”

Fortunately for Cameron, he didn’t have to do anything but watch in the third overtime.

Sophomore Carson Kaveney took draw for Cheyenne Mountain and sent the ball towards the sideline, where Kugler took over.

“They have an amazing first team all-state face-off guy, so to be able to send a sophomore out there to win a draw and a sophomore short stick middle to pick it up is huge,” Bowan said. “Colt Kugler, he’s got ice in his veins.”

Added Cameron: “That was awesome, that was exactly what we needed. …(senior) Weber Rowell got hurt in the second overtime, so it was a little demoralizing for the team to see our star player go down, but we need people to pick up the slack. Colt Kugler just saw the goal, went down and scored it.”

With the golden goal, the Red-Tailed Hawks also picked up a measure of revenge against Evergreen, which won a 5-4 overtime contest when the teams played on April 1.

“Driving all the way up there to lose and then to drive two hours back sucked,” Kugler recalled. “I’m glad we’re going back with a win this time.”

From an all-time perspective, Cheyenne Mountain’s victory was significant.

It had been tied with Arapahoe and Regis Jesuit for the second-most state championships of all time with four apiece, but moved into the second spot alone behind Cherry Creek, a 5A finalist that has won eight titles.

“It certainly feels good to add another trophy to that case and rekindle that tradition that has been set before us and honor the guys that came before us,” Bowan said. “A lot of those guys have been in communication with us and supporting us, so we’re extremely blessed to be part of the Cheyenne Mountain community.”