The switch stayed locked in the on position for just about the entire 80 minutes Friday, and Durango walked out with the win.
The Durango High School girls soccer team held off a brief late rally attempt to make an early goal stand up for a 1-0 win over Grand Junction Central on Friday at Riverview Sports Complex.
DHS put forth one of its most complete efforts of the season, allowing nary a scoring chance until the final furious minutes and playing confidently in terms of passing and touches compared to some games earlier this season. And the Demons (6-3-1, 3-2-1 Southwestern League) managed the showing despite missing Bella Bernazzani, Rachel Rossi, Stephanie Ogier and Laken Bennion from the lineup, playing well from start to finish against a Warriors team thats had its struggles this season.
I would say there was about probably one time in the game where we had an on and off switch, where we had a great long stretch of dominance, then we had a short turn of the off switch and then like another great run of dominance, DHS head coach Dalon Parker said. DHS freshman Katie Milliet provided the game-winner in the 16th minute Friday. After sister Lauren Milliet won a tackle, Katie Milliet took the ball down the left sideline before cutting toward the net near the goal line, gaining enough of an edge on her defender to fire a shot off the far post and into the net from a seemingly tough angle. I saw my sister made a hard tackle, and the ball came out, said Katie Milliet, daughter of Charlie and Janis Milliet. And Dalon was yelling at me to get up the field. And so I just dribbled as far as I could before I cut in. ... Just looked up, saw the far post was open, shot, and it hit off the post and went in.The goal stood up, threatened only by a late, desperate surge. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Demons goalkeeper Hannah Robertson was up to the task in keeping a clean sheet. In the 79th minute, Robertson punched away Lynzee Dwyers free kick from about 30 yards away. On the ensuing corner kick, Makaylee Clouds deflection burrowed sharply into Robertsons bread basket, and the junior goalie held on. Beyond those chances, the Demons proved stout on defense, which Parker attributed to the back fours ability to keep their shape, and the midfielders did well to keep the game going forward.
Weve been working on our shape a lot, which I think really helped us pull off the win, Katie Milliet said. The team did really well defensively. The defense, hats off to them.
Durango did well to generate a bevy of scoring chances, forcing Marisa Brown to make five saves for the Warriors (1-7-1, 1-4-1 SWL). The fancy feet of Lauren Milliet worked her free for a handful of quality opportunities in both halves, while Steffie Wilson also had a couple of scoring opportunities.
We had the struggle of that last pass, that last touch, that last something to get ourselves to finish, Parker said. And then when we did get that last pass, that last touch, you know, we just had that not-on-frame type of thing.
rowens@durangoherald.com
