The Durango High School girls lacrosse team began its three-game league homestand Thursday by walloping the visiting Montrose Indians 12-2.
“It was pretty sick,” Victoria Barletta said. “I love how well we’re playing.”
“Hopefully we can keep it going,” said Annabel Carithers.
The Demons scored the first five goals against Montrose, took a 7-1 lead into halftime and then kept the pressure on MHS in the second half to continue pulling away.
“It was nice to set the tone at the beginning and keep that pace,” said DHS head coach Eric Elliott. “That’s the exact way we needed to start this three-game homestand; I couldn’t be happier.”
Montrose saved Durango’s first couple shots, but Emmylou Willis got DHS on the scoreboard with a running shot about eight minutes in. Barletta doubled the lead three minutes later.
Dillon Aspen earned a free position with 13:10 on the clock and whipped a hard shot on goal, but unfortunately it ringed off the post. DHS kept possession and created an opportunity for Barletta, but her shot was saved.
At the 10:23 mark, Carithers wove through Montrose’s defense and scored to give DHS a 3-0 lead.
After a long possession, Chloe Bowen opted to keep the ball and scored a goal from close range for a 4-0 lead.
Willis then scored her second of three goals in the game with a backhanded shot.
Grace Cross got MHS on the board with a goal at the 6:39 mark. Durango defended her well early, but Cross was able to sneak by a defender and score a close shot.
A minute later, however, Carithers bounced a running shot in. Then Barletta scored on a free position to put DHS up, 7-1.
Montrose had a late opportunity, but Nellie Miller stopped a pass in to end the threat.
Lexi Wold said communication was big for both Durango’s offense and defense on Thursday – talking through what they were going to do and helping them be in the right spot at the right time.
The second half featured a lot of free positions. Carithers had a free-position goal waved off. She got a redo, but her second shot was saved.
Olivia Rome, however, scored with a high shot on another free position two minutes later. Rome then knocked the ball away from Montrose to create a turnover.
Willis’ third goal came on a free position with 15 minutes left, putting DHS up 9-1.
Jaden Rambo scored on a free position by bouncing a shot over Montrose’s goalie.
Montrose then got a free position goal from Malaya Becenti.
Carithers gave DHS an 11-2 lead with her third goal of the game.
Barletta finished the scoring with 1:38 left. Her free position shot was saved, but Durango kept possession of the ball and after some nice passes, Barletta got the ball again and buried a shot.
Carithers also said the Demons “killed it on ground balls” Thursday.
“This was the first game we played a complete game,” Elliott said. “Our defense is always good, but we were also good in the transition and good on the attack. Today’s result is an example of what can happen when we put all three together.”
Durango won its first game against Montrose, 5-4.
DHS will next host league-leading Grand Junction at 7 p.m. Friday, which is also the team’s senior night, then turn around and host Fruita Monument at 10 a.m. Saturday.
DHS (6-3, 4-2) is second in the 4A Mountain West behind Grand Junction (5-7, 5-0), meaning the Demons will need to win Friday’s clash to have any chance of winning the league. Fruita is third in the league at 3-8, 2-2.
Earlier this season, DHS fell 7-6 against Grand Junction, but beat Fruita 12-11.
Durango will then conclude its regular season next week with games at Battle Mountain and Roaring Fork.
“If we can keep this energy and momentum into the weekend, we’ll have a good shot at making the playoffs,” Carithers said.
“Being the first (Durango girls lacrosse) team to make the playoffs would be cool,” Wold said.
