Demon soccer shuts out Central

Saturday, May 6, 2023 3:38 PM Updated Saturday, May. 6, 2023 4:59 PM

State tournament scheduled to begin on Wednesday

Peyton Cioppa of Durango High School passes the ball on Friday while playing Grand Junction Central at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

The Durango High School girls soccer team beat Grand Junction Central 1-0 on Friday at DHS, but the score was closer than the game was.

The Demons only needed a little more than seven minutes to get on the scoreboard. Mason Rowland launched a throw in into the goal box and Riley Campbell headed the ball past Central’s goalie and into the side netting.

The Demons possessed the ball a vast majority of time after that and put several other good balls on frame, but was unable to add to its lead.

DHS goalie Ryne Neiman, however, made a handful of saves for DHS. The biggest, arguably, came midway through the second a half. A Central attacker got a step behinds Durango’s defense and fired a close shot on target, but Neiman was able to smother it.

The Demons, meanwhile, forced Central’s goalie to make player after play throughout the contest.

After Campbell’s goal, Durango had four corner kicks in quick succession. Central’s goalie was able to knock some of the centering kicks out of the air and out of the box, but DHS also hit the post on one and the cross bar on another.

DHS continued to dominate the possession with quick passes all around the field, but Central rushed to get numbers back on defense and keep the Demons from getting many clear looks.

DHS improved to 9-3 overall and 6-1 in the 4A/5A Southwestern League with the win, setting up a clash with first-place Fruita Monument (11-3, 7-0) on Saturday as this paper was going to press. Central slipped to 9-5, 4-4 with the loss, but was scheduled to play Bayfield on Saturday to close out its regular season.

DHS also honored its six seniors before Friday’s game: Amelia Davenport, Ava McClellan, Rowland, Teagan Reese, Sophie Ragsdale and Campbell.

The state brackets will be released on Sunday with the first round of the Class 4A state tournament scheduled to begin on Wednesday at the higher seed. DHS was ranked No. 9 on Saturday in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.

Update: Goals were tough to come by in Saturday’s game against Fruita Monument as well, but the Wildcats managed to score the lone goal with 16 minutes remaining to lock up the league title with a 1-0 win over DHS.

Bella Saren of Durango High School controls the ball on Friday while playing Grand Junction Central at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Sydney Ryan of Durango High School heads the ball on Friday while playing Grand Junction Central at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Sarah Somrak of Durango High School moves the ball on Friday while playing Grand Junction Central at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Reese Dahly of Durango High School goes for the ball on Friday while playing Grand Junction Central at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Riley Campbell, left, celebrates after scoring a goal with her Durango High School teammate Mason Rowland on Friday while playing Grand Junction Central at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Mason Rowland of Durango High School goes for the ball on Friday while playing Grand Junction Central at DHS. Durango High School. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)