Log In


Reset Password
Sports Youth Sports Professional Sports More Sports College Sports High School Sports

Sophomores lift Durango girls soccer past Grand Junction Central

Girls soccer leaves Grand Junction with two wins

The Durango High School girls soccer team made a statement to the rest of the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 5A/4A Southwestern League over the weekend.

After opening the conference schedule with an overtime win Friday at Grand Junction High School, the Demons (4-1, 2-0 SWL) went across town Saturday morning to play Central High (3-3, 0-1 SWL). It didn’t take extra time, but the end result was the same, as Durango beat Central 2-1 and marched out of Grand Junction at the top of the standings after the opening weekend of play.

Sophomores Emma Aggeler and Madeleine Dearien had the goals for Durango, which led 2-0 until the final minutes behind another stellar showing in net by Leah Stephens.

“It wasn’t our best showing (Saturday), but the girls stuck together and figured out how to get the job done,” Durango head coach Dalon Parker said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “We got outplayed, and that was kind of expected after playing the night before. It’s a tough turnaround, and the energy wasn’t there, but we figured out how to win when we aren’t at our best.”

Two halves and an extra time in Friday’s win might have worn out some teams, but Durango had enough in the tank to grab a 1-0 lead in Saturday’s first half thanks to Dearien’s goal. Aggeler gave the Demons a 2-0 lead in the second half, and the Durango defense did the rest.

Stephens was well on her way to her second shutout in as many days until a bad turnover in front of her set up the Warriors’ only goal.

“They had trouble getting shots on frame,” Parker said. “We didn’t give them many opportunities to score, but Leah was there when we needed her, as usual.”

Durango will try to extend its winning streak to four at 4 p.m. Thursday at Riverview Park against Montezuma-Cortez.

jfries@durangoherald.com



Reader Comments