Despite losing a pair of players to penalties, the Durango High School boys soccer team still beat Glenwood Springs 4-2 on Saturday to stay undefeated.
DHS, ranked No. 3 in the latest CHSAANow.com’s Class 4A rankings behind No. 1 Northfield and No. 2 Mullen, is now 4-0 overall.
“I thought technically and tactically they were very good, but I think we can work on our composure and emotional stability as we move on,” said DHS head coach Danny Suits.
Durango had to play over half the game down a man after Nik Korte received his second yellow card just before halftime. Owen Carozza then received a red card in 15 minutes into the second half, so DHS had to finish the game with nine players, and will be without both of them on Friday night when the Demons host Mead at Fort Lewis College.
“It’s a good opportunity for our team to learn from it and grow,” Suits said.
Despite the penalties, the Demons did a lot of good things on Saturday.
Mason Linney gave DHS the lead just four minutes into the contest. Linney fired a shot and the goalie was initially able to get his hands on the ball, but the shot had enough juice on it to spin out of his grasp and into the goal.
Seven minutes later, Mavrick Rodriguez put DHS up, 2-0. Rodriguez first headed a one-timer on goal, but Glenwood’s goalie made a leaping save to tip the shot off of the crossbar and out. Rodriguez, however, stayed with the play, chased down the rebound and kicked the second chance into the net.
Less than a minute into the second half, Christopher Portillo scored for Glenwood to cut Durango’s lead in half.
The Demons answered right back. Pol Cavaller had an opportunity deep in Glenwood territory, but its keeper used a slide tackle to kick it away from him. Cedar Newman, however, was in the right place, got the loose ball and buried a shot in an open net to put DHS back up by two, 3-1. Newman has now scored a team-high six goals for the Demons this season.
Rain started falling with 33 minutes left and, after a lightning delay with a little over eight minutes left on the clock, the game was called because of weather.
Both teams, however, scored once more before then.
Newman centered a ball perfectly into the box and Dylan Burns and Lucas Foster both jumped for it. Burns was able to get his head on it just before Foster to score on the one timer. Foster, however, did have an assist in the game.
Portillo scored a second goal with 23:27 left for Glenwood, but neither team would score again before the game was called.
Glenwood, who lost its opener to Steamboat Springs in overtime, 2-1, is now 0-2.
The undefeated Demons will next take on the undefeated Mead Mavericks (2-0) at 6 p.m. Friday at Dirks Field.
“I think we’re on a good streak, we just have to remain focused and composed,” Suits said.
