HIGHLANDS RANCH — One game doesn’t define a whole season, but that still doesn’t change the outcome. 

The No. 2 Rampart girls soccer team couldn’t overcome a three-goal deficit in the first half and fell to No. 6 Evergreen for its second semifinal loss in a row. The Cougars led 3-0 in the first 23 minutes at Redstone Park in Highlands Ranch and held the Rams (15-3) to two goals in the second half to make the title game for the third consecutive year. 

“Evergreen is a fantastic team,” Rampart head coach Carisa Whitson said. “We have an amazing group of girls, lots of seniors dedicated to this team for the last four years, and younger players who have stepped up. We had an amazing journey to get to this point.”

The loss comes a year after falling 2-0 to No. 3 Windsor in last season’s semifinals. The Cougars face No. 12 Mullen in the 4A championship on May 19. 

Evergreen (14-2-3) senior Cameron Wedding found the back of the net in the 12th minute, followed shortly by another from teammate Gianna Weiner in the 17th minute. Cougar junior Elle Buenning scored the last goal for Evergreen in the 23rd minute, and Natalie Mayo scored the Rams’ first goal in the 31st. 

Trailing 3-1 into the second half, Rampart came out with more energy, but missed multiple scoring opportunities at the net. Senior Brooklynn Pollmiller scored in the final six seconds from a corner kick, but it wasn’t enough to top the 2025 state champions. 

“The deficit gave us fire to dig back into the game, which we did,” Whitson said. “That’s what is hard with this game, sometimes you don’t get the win no matter what you do and how hard you work for it.” 

Rampart loses 12 seniors to graduation, but the bond of playing together the last four years is what the class will remember most. 

“We’ve spent every day together,” Pollmiller said. “Our chemistry on and off the field is what brought us together the last four years. Every practice we showed up for each other. We left everything on the field; I’m just thankful to have played with these girls.”