The high school boys soccer season is about two months away, but the Durango High School boys soccer team is already looking to bring the soccer community together.
Demons head coach Sean Ackerman announced on Wednesday that the team is hosting its first-ever alumni game on July 19 at 11 a.m. at Durango High School.
“I want to build a relationship of former players and current players,” Ackerman said. “It's a good opportunity for some of the current players to talk to guys who have gone through the school, experienced it all, see what passion is like and the heart for representing the town and the community. It's a great opportunity to just bring people that have been playing or have played in the past back together and haven't seen each other in years.”
The plan for July 19 is for the alumni to play against each other 11 vs. 11, followed by a team scrimmage by current members of the program. Ackerman said the event will last two to three hours and he thinks it will be a good chance for former players to see how the program looks heading into the season. The former players who play or played at a higher level can show the current players what areas of the game they need to improve.
Ackerman, a former Durango High boys soccer player, has reached out to players in his class and plans to play in the game. His coaching staff will also be playing in the game, regardless of whether they went to Durango. Ackerman hopes to have enough players for an 11 vs. 11 game, but if not, they’ll play 9 vs. 9 or however many they have.
There will be a $5 entry charge for players to help support the program. These funds will go toward travel costs like hotel fees for playoffs and food for the players.
Anyone interested in playing can email Ackerman at sackerman@durangoschools.org to help him get a head count. Players will have to sign a waiver to play on the high school field.
Since 2014, the Demons boys soccer program has won 10+ games every season (except the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season) and has finished either first or second in their league. In the last four years, the Demons had a combined record of 54-9-6.
Last season was Ackerman’s first leading the program and Durango finished 12-3-3 overall and 7-1-2 in the 5A/4A Southwestern League. The Demons lost 2-1 to Mullen in the 4A state quarterfinals.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
