ARVADA — Golden’s girls lacrosse team doesn’t fear playing Class 5A squads during its non-league schedule.
The Demons — No. 5 in the CHSAANow.com Class 4A rankings — know they need to be prepared for what is ahead during the final stretch of the regular season.
“We know that and we knew that last year,” Golden coach Robby McClure said of playing in the best 4A league in the state. “We feel like someone from our division is probably going to be winning state or maybe even two teams in our league playing for the state title.”
The 4A West League currently features five teams that sit in the top-6 of the 4A rankings. Evergreen (defending 4A state champion), Poudre School District, Castle View, Golden and Green Mountain are all in the top-6.
“It is very important that we build during the season to prepare for those last five league games,” McClure said.
Golden (3-0 record) put its undefeated record on the line Thursday night at the North Area Athletic Complex against 5A West League’s Ralston Valley. The Demons scored three straight goals in the final seven minutes of the first half and went on a 4-0 run in the second half to take a 12-6 victory.
“I think everyone came out a little nervous,” Golden senior Ava Ganter admitted as Ralston Valley actually held a 3-2 lead with under eight minutes to play in the first half. “Obviously this game is hard because we a playing a team we know and girls we know. Once we calmed down and caught our breath we gained some more confidence.”
Ganter is brimming with confidence this season. The senior poured in five goals in the win against the Mustangs (0-2) to put her at 13 goals in three games.
Back-to-back goals by Ganter midway through the second half pushed the Demons’ lead to 8-4. Ganter had plenty of support win the scoring column. Senior Tatum Miller and sophomore Callie McClure both had a pair of goals to lessen the scoring load on Ganter’s shoulders.
“I have a lot of girls on my team that I trust and I know I can pass to,” Ganter said. “It is really helpful to have other teammates to look to. We are gaining that as the season goes on with other shooters and scorers we can rely on.”
Junior Taylor Tobin, sophomore Madeline Holunga and freshman Ady Brickle all added a goal in the victory for the Demons.
Ralston Valley freshman Sara Walker had a pair of goals for the Mustangs. Senior Maddie Diesslin, sophomores Samantha Peters, Nicole McCarthy and freshman Taylor Sanders each had a goal for the young Ralston Valley team.
“Our school and Ralston Valley have some girls that don’t have lacrosse at their schools,” McClure said. “We hope we get those girls just like RV does. This is an important game, just like all of them. We are trying to build for the playoffs and go to state.”
Golden is back to action next week facing another pair of 5A squads in Chatfield and Columbine. It might look like awhile off, but the Demons open conference play against defending 4A state champion Evergreen on April 19.
“We have a really hard league and having these games before league are stressful, but they are good to get your feet underneath you,” Ganter said.
Ralston Valley will try to get into the win column this Saturday whey it faces Cheyenne Mountain at 11:30 a.m. at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood.