Durango High School seniors couldn’t remember the last time they had beat Fruita Monument. That’s because they weren’t even in high school yet the last time it occurred.
With a league championship hanging in the balance, the two girls soccer teams went blow-for-blow Friday night at DHS. The host Demons and visiting Wildcats exchanged goals in the opening minute, too.
But it was Durango, behind two goals from senior Maddy McManus, that prevailed in a matchup of previously undefeated teams, as the Demons claimed a 3-1 victory to take a huge advantage in the league standings with two games to play.
It was the first time DHS (7-0-1, 5-0-1 SWL) had beat Fruita Monument (6-1-1, 4-1-1 SWL) since April 8, 2017, as the two teams had tied 1-1 earlier this season.
Friday’s result could lead the Demons to their first league championship since that 2017 season, when they won a tiebreaker via goal differential against the Wildcats.
“This was so much fun. Playing all four years, Fruita has been that No. 1 competitor in this league,” said McManus. “We tied them last time in double overtime. As a senior, with this potentially being our last home game unless we host for the playoffs, this is a fantastic way to go out. We’ve come full circle now it feels like.”
The game was tied 1-1 after the opening minutes.
Durango had scored on a corner kick chance, as freshman Sarah Somrak directed the ball into the goal with her chest. But Fruita Monument senior Lauren Hansen had also blown past DHS senior Kyle Rowland and got in front of goal to finish a shot.
“Fruita had two really fast players with (Hansen and Kylie Wells),” DHS head coach Melissa Halonen said. “In the first five minutes, I pulled Kyle Rowland over and told her it was going to be a battle between her and them the whole game. She did beat her the one time, but we really did a good job to stay with them.”
Both teams raced up and down the field to generate scoring opportunities until McManus broke through with her first goal in the 23rd minute. Kyle Rowland took a free kick from 55 yards out and dropped in a perfect pass over the head of the Fruita defense onto the foot of McManus, who extended her leg and poked the ball past the Fruita goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
“Kyle had a free kick a couple minutes before, and I knew where Kyle was going with it because she’s amazing with her placement,” McManus said. “I just had to try to get a touch on it. To be honest, I kind of closed my eyes and reached for it. I heard everyone cheer and was so happy. Perfect ball by her, I just happened to be there.”
The constant pressure from both sides continued into the second half in a highly physical match that saw a few players leave for injuries, including Hansen who had her right eyebrow split open as she went up for a header and clashed with Durango’s Mason Rowland.
Referees let the physical nature of the game continue with so much riding on the result.
“Our girls can turn it on, and they are not afraid to be physical. They have the technical ability to go around that, too,” Halonen said.
In the 53rd minute, McManus would take another chance at goal, this time from 40 yards out. She blasted a shot into the upper left corner of the goal that was impossible for the Wildcats’ goalkeeper to stop.
“Riley Campbell set that one up perfectly for me. I didn’t know how far away I was, but might as well shoot it if you have the shot. All I saw was the goalie dive and then the crowd go crazy,” McManus said. “In soccer, a 1-1 tie or even a 2-1 lead, nothing is a guarantee. To get that third goal was such a relief, and we knew we could come together and really play defense to seal it.”
DHS had a few more chances, including a Mason Rowland goal that would be called back for offsides. Halonen and McManus both felt the final score line could have easily been 5-1 or 6-1, especially after DHS hit another three posts with shots in the match.
Defensively, the Demons were stout in closing down runs from Fruita’s wingers while denying the Wildcats inside the box, too. Goalkeeper Jocelyn Feir was dialed in and held on to every dangerous shot or pass played into the box.
“Our defense was very coordinated and organized and communicated well,” Feir said. “We played what we practiced. I was on my toes the entire day and definitely during the game. It was constant adrenaline because they were sending balls over our defense, and it would be race after race.”
Halonen credited the work of backs Marissa Campano, Sophie Ragsdale and Cam Kelly as well as center back Emmy Mattox for their quick decisions and physical play defensively.
“Kelly is just a rock back there, and we’ve been trying to get Sophie more into the attack, so Marissa has really stepped up as a sophomore. She’s been a total surprise to me this year with her ability to hang, play fast and stay physical,” Halonen said. “Mattox is so solid back there, too. She’s super smart, and that makes her a great defender.
“Then with Jocelyn in goal, you don’t think she’s gonna get there sometimes and then all of a sudden she moves and gets in perfect position. She’s so solid, and she’s just coming into being a leader on this team and organizing the back the whole time.”
Now, DHS must make sure to close out the league championship with road matches next week at Montrose (2-5, 2-4 SWL) and Grand Junction Central (1-6, 0-6 SWL). Halonen believes the team will be mentally tough enough to stay focused for the road trips, even with school now out for summer.
“The plan is to host a playoff game this year. Now we need to go out and manifest it,” McManus said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
