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A booty-ful goal for the win

Curmano’s backside seals Round 1 W for the Demons

The first home playoff game led to the first playoff win for the Durango Demons since 2011.

No. 9 Durango High School opened the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A Boys Soccer State Championships with a 2-0 win against No. 24 Vista Ridge of Colorado Springs on Wednesday afternoon at the Riverview Sports Complex.

The playoff game was evenly matched until the final minute of the first half, when senior midfielder Nate Curmano used his backside to direct a goal past Vista Ridge Wolves’ goalkeeper Jordan Carder. Curmano was the first to touch a corner kick by DHS senior midfielder Tony Williams.

“Tony played a great ball, and I did whatever I could on it. If it was my butt, then a goal is a goal,” said Curmano, son of Kevinanne and Tom Curmano. “It was really big. We’re such a big family, and I don’t think I scored the goal; I think it was every piece of the team that scored a little bit of it. Without everyone else, it would’ve been nothing.”

The goal lifted the Demons’ spirits at halftime, especially after senior goalkeeper Lars Schwaebe made a pair of nice saves early in the first half to keep the Wolves off the scoreboard.

“It was important. You go in, you feel good. Winning a playoff game, it’s nice,” said Schwaebe, the son of Charles Schwaebe and Bitten Skertvedt.

DHS head coach Dalon Parker called Schwaebe’s second save of the game on a ball just below the crossbar a game-changer.

“That save he made was probably a game-defining save,” Parker said. “That ball goes in the back of the net, and we’re talking about a whole different game. Lars has always been that kind of keep that can get himself up in the air and make those saves, and it was really big for us.”

Vista Ridge head coach Stephen Dimit called Curmano’s late goal the biggest momentum-changer.

“We’ve been in that position before, but that’s not the time to give up a goal, for sure,” Dimit said. “Those things happen, and I thought we did a decent job battling back and getting decent shots in the second half, but Durango played pretty smothering defense all around the field, which is impressive.”

DHS junior forward Vance Bulen gave the Demons their insurance goal in the 48th minute, when he scored off an assist from junior midfielder Austin Urban.

It was Bulen’s first action after missing two games with a calf injury. Bulen, who has been frustrated by missing some shots in front of the goal this season, was relieved to see a shot go in.

“It was awesome. I’ve missed the last two games because of my calf, so it felt really good to get back in there and do something for the team,” said Bulen, son of David and Janine Bulen. “I couldn’t even explain (the feeling) when it happened, I was just too excited.”

Schwaebe came up with one more good save in the second half, and he was bailed out by senior defender Logan Graham, who was in perfect position to keep a ball out of the goal when Schwaebe was beat.

“It’s very nice. I’ve been playing with Logan for a very long time, and I trust him,” Schwaebe said. “It’s good to know if I’m not there, he is.”

Durango outshot Vista Ridge 11-6, but the Wolves had more shots on goal, 5-4.

Parker said his team was anxious to get out and play in front of a good home crowd after only playing four home games during the regular season.

“It was amazing to be on the receiving end of the seven-hour drive, because we do so much of those in our preseason and league games,” Curmano said of not having to ride the bus in the first round. “To be at home and have another team come and get right off the bus and be able to play them with their dead legs, it helped us a lot.”

The Demons’ opponent in the Round of 16 will be No. 8 Littleton (13-3), who defeated No. 25 Mesa Ridge 5-0 late Wednesday night.

Parker expected Littleton to win comfortably, and he isn’t concerned about traveling more than seven hours to the game next Tuesday.

“We’re not worried about traveling to Littleton. We’ve been saying ‘Just let us play. We don’t care where we play. Put us in the tournament and let us show our stuff,’” Parker said. “If we go eight hours, we’re prepared for it.”

jlivingston@ durangoherald.com

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