Golden vs. Evergreen: 4A Girls State Championship Preview

Friday, May 15, 2026 | 5:00 PM | University of Denver | CHSAA 4A Girls State Championship

Golden enters as the clear favorite. The Demons are 16-2 on the season, have not lost a home game all year (10-0), and already beat Evergreen 18-11 on April 23. They average 16.4 goals per game and hold opponents to 6.8, the better defensive mark of the two teams. They are ranked No. 1 in 4A and No. 6 in Colorado.

Evergreen has been the more unpredictable team. The Cougars went 9-7 in the regular season but have won three straight playoff games to get here. They went 7-3 against common opponents, which actually edges Golden's 6-2 mark in those same matchups. The Cougars average 13.9 goals per game and their freshman goalkeeper has been one of the steadier backstops in 4A down the stretch. They are ranked No. 3 in 4A and No. 9 in Colorado.

Golden won the head-to-head matchup on April 23, beating Evergreen 18-11 in a conference game.

Team Stats

Golden leads in nearly every offensive category. The Demons have 295 goals, 145 assists, and 462 ground balls on the season compared to Evergreen's 206 goals, 75 assists, and 194 ground balls. Golden's goals against average is 6.8. Evergreen's is 11.4. Evergreen has the edge in saves, 102 to 91, and in common opponent record, 7-3 to Golden's 6-2.

Golden Players to Watch

Junior Katie Hufford leads the Golden offense with 47 goals. Freshman Brooklyn Meurer has been a key distributor with 21 assists, ranking No. 2 in 4A and No. 13 in the state. Freshman Lila Rodriguez has been strong in the middle of the field with 51 ground balls, ranking No. 3 in 4A and No. 21 in Colorado. In goal, freshman Bethany Knoedler has posted a 7.40 goals against average and a .443 save percentage, ranking No. 2 in 4A and No. 11 in Colorado.

Evergreen Players to Watch

Senior Ryn Gardner leads the Evergreen offense with 71 goals and 82 points, ranking No. 1 in 4A West in both categories. She also ranks No. 3 in 4A in goals and No. 4 in Colorado. Junior Addison White leads the Cougars in assists with 22, ranking No. 1 in 4A West and No. 11 in 4A. Freshman Charlee Hood has added 18 assists, ranking No. 3 in 4A West. In goal, freshman Rae Pegues has posted a 9.28 goals against average and a .457 save percentage, ranking in the top 25 statewide in both categories.

What to Watch

The main storyline is Gardner against Golden's defense. She has 71 goals this season and the ability to take over a game. If Golden can contain her, the Demons' depth and ground ball dominance should be the difference. Golden had 462 ground balls to Evergreen's 194 on the season, a gap that is hard to overlook.

Evergreen's path to winning runs through outperforming the April 23 result and getting Gardner going early. The Cougars went 7-3 against common opponents, which shows they can compete with quality teams. But Golden's scoring margin, defensive numbers, and head-to-head edge make them the team to beat heading into Friday's final.