LAKEWOOD — It took some scoring from Green Mountain’s defense Monday night to lift the Rams to a 5-0 victory over Littleton at Lakewood Memorial Field.
Green Mountain — No. 4 in the CHSAANow.com Class 4A girls soccer rankings — put the pressure early on Littleton, but it wasn’t until senior middle backer Emmie Barton scored in the 27th minute could the Rams take the lead.
“It was one of those moments I saw the opportunity to get forward,” Barton said of her beautifully placed shot that went into the far corner of the net. “I used to be a forward so I like making those runs when I can. They gave me the opportunity so I went for it. It felt really good.”
Fellow defender — senior Sidney Weigel — made it a 2-0 Green Mountain lead at halftime with a rocket of a shot from the outside that she tucked under the cross bar in the 33rd minute.
“We like the outside backs to be part of the offense,” Green Mountain coach Bari Abuhadema said.
Green Mountain forwards took over the scoring duties in the second half. Freshman Charlize Ellsworth scored in the 58th and 61st minutes. Sophomore Alyssa Hamilton scored in the middle of Ellsworth’s goal with a tally in the 60th minute to make it a 5-0 victory in the 4A Jeffco League game.
Junior goalie Taya Olguin picked up the shutout victory over Littleton (3-8, 0-5) in net for the Rams (9-3, 4-1 in league)
“I’m super thrilled where we are at,” Barton said. “We had the tough loss against Dakota Ridge, but I think we are still on the up-and-up. I think we are going to make a huge impression on teams in the playoffs.”
Green Mountain suffered a 4-2 loss to league-leading and No. 2 Dakota Ridge a week earlier at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Rams have bounced back with three straight wins over the last five days.
“They have come together,” said Abuhadema, who was named the head coach a few months before the season started. “The team culture is really good. They are buying into their roles. It is like a sisterhood and that is important.”
The Rams weren’t in the preseason rankings to start the season, but have steadily moved up into the top-5.
“The pressure comes with it,” Abuhadema said of the Rams being ranked. “That is part of the game. We just have to play ever game like it’s our last game. We need that mindset.”
Green Mountain turns its attention to Golden (6-4, 3-1) on Thursday, April 27, at the North Area Athletic Complex. The Rams finish the regular season next week against Conifer and D’Evelyn.