LAKEWOOD — Golden’s boys lacrosse team rallied from a 3-0 deficit late Friday afternoon to snag a must-win victory against rival Evergreen.
Junior Lochlan Rogers and freshman Brakken McDougal scored two goals each as the Demons grabbed a 8-4 victory at Trailblazer Stadium. It was the first Class 4A Foothills League win for Golden (4-9, 1-3 in league) this season.
“Yes the season hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to, but we are turning it around,” Golden senior Dalton Summers said. “It’s getting better.”
Summers — who has signed to play lacrosse at Adams State next year — is one of the last reminiscence from Golden’s 4A state championship team from 2019. Golden senior Logan Brewer will join Summers playing for the Grizzlies at the college level next year.
The Demons have struggled this season, but have put together their first 2-game winning streak after defeating Vail Mountain and Evergreen this week. After a 4-game losing streak, Golden is right back in the picture to get into the postseason.
However, making the playoffs wasn’t central on the Demons’ minds Friday facing Evergreen (3-8, 0-4).
“We treated this as it’s our rivals with Evergreen,” Summers said. “Every win matters for us, but playing our rivals and getting revenge from last year is what mattered today.”
The Cougars — who have now lost six straight — defeated the Demons 8-4 last season. Evergreen got off to a good start with goals from Nash Carroll, Nate Park and Eli Park to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Golden got a pair of goals back with McDougal and Rogers finding the back of the net to make the score 3-2 going into halftime. Goals by Chase Marini and Sean Landmark put the Demons up 4-3 before Nate Park scored his second goal of the game to tie things up 4-4 going into the final quarter.
It was all Demons in the fourth with John Meyers, McDougal, Rogers and Zach Henderson all score within a 5-minute span for the eventual 8-4 win.
Golden finishes out the regular season against Green Mountain and Castle View next week. The Demons need to finish in the top-20 of the RPI rankings to make the 20-team 4A state tournament. Golden was No. 18 before the win over Evergreen.
The Cougars actually still have a shot at the postseason. Evergreen has four games next week — Kent Denver, Erie, Glenwood Springs and Vail Mountain — to wrap up its regular season. The Cougars were No. 19 in the RPI standings before the loss to Golden.