The Durango High School boys lacrosse team struggled at times this season, but the Demons finished the year by playing their best lacrosse.
Durango picked up its first win of the season on Thursday at Montrose, 12-9, and then battled Grand Junction to the very end on Saturday before ultimately succumbing 7-6.
“We hit a low point in the Telluride game at Telluride,” said DHS head coach Luke Miller. “Since then, we refocused and put together a good last few games. We played Telluride good here, beat Montrose and then took these guys to the very end.”
On Thursday, the Demons were able to pay Montrose back on the Red Hawks’ turf after MHS won the first game in Durango.
“The entire team knew we wanted to go get a win,” Miller said.
DHS started hot and led 5-1 after the first quarter and 8-1 at halftime.
Miller said the second half was a little “scary” watching the Red Hawks claw back into the game, but Cruz Martinez scored five goals for DHS including a couple clutch ones late.
“Cruz helped shut the door in that game,” Miller said. “It felt so good to get that monkey off our back.”
JT Munger also scored twice and assisted two goals in the game. Jameson Connolly scored twice, Ilias Stritikus scored one and assisted two and Logan Gurule also scored once while Henry Huff and Owen Carozza recorded assists.
On Saturday, only a couple of goals separated the teams throughout.
Connolly opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, bouncing a goal in to cut Junction’s lead to 6-5 with 7:15 remaining.
Goalie Alex Gnehm then saved a close shot, a bouncer and a 15-yard laser in about a one-minute span to keep it a one-goal game.
“He had a great season,” Miller said about Gnehm.
Durango went on the attack after that. With two minutes remaining, Connolly found Wynn Daniels open in front and Daniels fired a hard shot off the post.
The Tigers scored next with a quick close shot. DHS, however, answered immediately. Durango won the ensuing face off, sprinted down the field and Wade Mitchell buried a shot to make it a one-game again with 57 seconds remaining.
DHS took a timeout with 33 seconds left to plan a final attack. A GJHS defender, however, intercepted a pass before the Demons could get a final shot off.
“We had the ball with a chance to win or tie,” Miller said. “We worked hard and played hard, unfortunately, the ball didn’t bounce our way.”
Gurule, Huff, Martinez also scored while Connolly finished with two goals and Mitchell one.
The game was also the last in a DHS jersey for four seniors: Connolly, Hays Stritikus, Ilias Stritikus and Jackson Nash.
“The seniors played out today,” Miller said. “Each one contributed and they were selling out for their last game.”
Martinez scored 17 goals to lead the Demons this season while Owen Muraro and Gurule both scored 10.
The coach also gave Nash props for his performance on face offs, turning it from a weakness into a 50-50 chance at DHS gaining possessing the ball this year. Nash won 105 out of 194 face offs.
Munger, Gurule and Ilias Stritikus tied with four assists. Carozza had a team-high 58 ground balls, followed by Nash with 55 and Grady Hooten with 40.
Gnehm made 218 saves, stopping over 64% of the shots he faced.
Durango finishes its season 1-12 overall and 1-9 in the 4A Mountain league. Grand Junction improved to 6-9, 6-4 while Montrose finishes 1-10, 1-9.
