The Durango High School boys soccer team shut out Grand Junction Central 10-0 on Saturday, getting goals from eight different Demons while only allowing Central one shot on goal.
“It’s always good to get the shutout,” said DHS head coach Danny Suits. “I’m happier with the 0 than the 10.”
Nikolas Korte scored three goals to lead the Demons and put his first shot on goal just 20 seconds into the game.
Central’s goalie Alejandro Jimenez was up to the task early and made a diving save and a sliding save to keep DHS off the scoreboard.
In the 15th minute, however, Korte opened the flood gates when he stole an attempted clear and then chipped a shot over the goalie for the game’s first goal.
DHS goalie Fred Reiter made his only save of the game not long after that, catching a free kick booted right at him. Led by senior defenders Mason Linney and Sam Caudle, DHS kept the Warriors from putting any more shots on frame.
Sam Persing scored Durango’s next goal in the 19th minute.
In the final 14 minutes of the half, Durango scored five goals to blow the game open.
“Having eight different goal scorers is always fun,” Suits said. “Our combination passes from midfield were really good, probably the best all season. We had a lot of one-two touch passes and were moving the ball quickly.”
Pol Cavaller beat the goalie one-on-one after receiving a nice pass.
Korte then drove deep into the box and passed to an open Davis Cameron in front of the goal and Cameron scored with an easy finish.
Korte put DHS up 5-0 with a hard shot into the left corner of the net.
Rowan Stahl scored on a beautiful ball that just glanced the bottom of the crossbar before hitting the top of the net.
Durango then got a free kick in the final two minutes. The initial shot was saved, but the rebound bounced free, and Mavrick Rodriguez redirected the loose ball into the net with his chest.
The Demons needed less than seven minutes in the second half to score three more goals and enact the 10-goal mercy rule to end the game early.
Cedar Newman buried a hard shot at the 36:11 mark. Twenty seconds later, Korte scored his third goal to finish with a hat trick.
Nash Varetta created a good opportunity, but his shot was saved. After Newman got taken down in the box and awarded a penalty kick, however, Durango let Varetta take the shot. He kicked the ball hard to his right and Central’s goalie guessed correct, dove to get a hand on the ball, but he couldn’t slow it down enough to stop it from scoring.
“It was good to get some rotation and explore our depth,” Suits said, noting that he put in a lot of backups in the second half. “It was good to see them be competitive and close out the game.”
The Demons, still the No. 1 ranked team in Class 4A, improved to 13-0 overall and 6-0 in the 4A Southwestern League. Central slipped to 3-8-1, 0-6.
The Demons will play two more regular season games, both at home. Durango will host Fruita Monument (6-4-1, 2-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday and then close out against Montrose (4-8, 2-4) at 6 p.m. Oct. 21.
