The Durango High School boys lacrosse team rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the visiting Glenwood Springs Demons in the fourth quarter, 7-7, on Friday at DHS.
Once the game was tied, however, Glenwood responded with three goals in three minutes to pull back ahead and win 10-8.
“Unfortunately we didn’t finish well and had some mental mistakes,” said DHS head coach Luke Miller. “We didn’t slide over on their next goal, but they also had some good shots.”
Durango trailed 4-0 after the first quarter. With goalie Bode Ensign taking over between the pipes after that, DHS won the second and third quarters to head into the fourth only trailing Glenwood 7-6. “Bode came in and picked up where he left off last year,” Miller said, noting that Ensign finished in the top five in save percentage last year. “He had a great game.”
Freshman Owen Muraro got the scoring started for Durango, collecting a pass in front of the net and burying a shot at the 6:59 mark in the second.
Later in the quarter, Zak Wentworth intercepted a pass, and Henry Howe fired a shot just wide. DHS, however, kept possession and on the restart Muraro scored while taking a big hit.
“That’s the way to step up when your number is called,” Miller said.
Jameson Connolly then scored with 10 seconds left in the half, making the score 6-3 at the break.
Ensign saved some hard shots to start the third. Howe then scored at the 6:20 mark. Less than a minute later, Howe assisted Logan Gurule to make it a one-goal game. Glenwood went back up by two, but Howe answered immediately and scored for Durango less than 30 seconds later.
“Henry has a motor that doesn’t stop,” Miller said. “He wants to win, and you can see it in his eyes.”
Glenwood put a shot on goal less than 10 seconds into the fourth, but Ensign blocked it. A couple minutes later, Leo Stritikus ran across the field with the ball and fired a cross-body shot to tie the game.
After Glenwood scored the next three goals, Sam Carozza scored for the Demons with a little under five minutes to go. Durango, however, was unable to get the equalizer.
DHS’ first game ended up being a modified contest due to a late arrival, so the Glenwood marked its season opener. The team also played a couple scrimmages.
“We’re seeing improvement in every game, now we’re hoping to see that translate in the win column,” Miller said.
The coach, however, said the team is starting ahead of where it began last year. And with 31 players out, it also has some depth it didn’t have in the past.
DHS will be home again on Saturday when the team welcomes Montrose to town for at noon.
The DHS girls lacrosse team was also scheduled to play Fuita Monument on Friday, but the game was canceled after Fruita was unable to secure refs for the game, DHS coach Eric Elliott said.
