Ready to make another trip to the Front Range, Durango High School is hoping for better results on the road this year than at home a year ago.
The DHS girls soccer team was awarded a No. 17 seed in the CHSAA Class 4A Girls Soccer State Championship bracket Sunday. The Demons (7-4-2) will head to Parker to face No. 16 Ponderosa (8-6-1) in Wednesday’s opening round.
After finishing the regular season with big wins against Fruita Monument and Grand Junction to cap off five wins in their final six games, the Demons had hoped to earn a home playoff game, but it wasn’t to be.
DHS went 1-1 in games played on the Front Range this season. The Demons beat No. 30 Coronado 1-0 before falling to Class 5A Pine Creek 3-0.
One year ago, the Demons hosted Discovery Canyon in a first-round game, only to be upset 2-0.
The Demons start several young players but are led by senior Steffie Wilson. Freshman Lane Arnwine has given the team a boost along with junior Lauren Milliet and sophomores Lauran Morrissey and Madeline Robertson.
DHS scored 21 goals in 13 games this season while allowing 20. DHS sophomore Kelly Perry has been strong in goal all season.
Ponderosa has been led by Peyton Sillbaugh and Kira Trombly. Sillbaugh has nine goals and four assists, and Trombly has eight goals and eight assists.
The Mustangs scored 34 times in 15 games while giving up 25 goals this season. Their goalkeeper, Brianna Collins, has made 73 saves while giving up an average of 1.92 goals per game.
The teams faced no common opponents during the regular season. Ponderosa is 4-3-1 at home, and Durango is 4-2-2 on the road.
If the Demons can advance past the first round, they likely would have the tough task of visiting No. 1 overall seed Cheyenne Mountain (13-0-2) in the second round May 10. The Indians host No. 32 Woodland Park (9-6) in the opening round.
DHS head coach Dalon Parker could not be reached for comment Sunday.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
