The Durango boys soccer team started the season strong, going 4-0-1 away from home. Then to start a six-game home stretch, the Demons had a rough patch with back-to-back losses.
It looks like the Demons have righted the ship before one of its biggest games of the season against Montrose. Durango beat Grand Junction Central 4-0 on Saturday before cruising to a 6-0 victory over Alamosa on Tuesday night.
Durango controlled the game with its superior speed and skill to Alamosa. In the second half, Durango head coach Sean Ackerman emptied his bench and got some younger players some playing time while resting his starters.
Junior forward Dylan Burns led the way with three goals. Senior defender Flint Gervais, junior forward Benjie Masterson and senior midfielder Orlando Palacios each had a goal.
The Demons improved to 6-2-1 overall after the win. Alamosa fell to 1-4-2 after the loss.
“We approach every game the same,” Ackerman said. “The mentality is the same and the work rate is the same. It’s nice to see some of our quality in possession, passing and finishing come along too.”
Durango controlled possession throughout most of the first half. Alamosa didn’t pressure the Demons defense too much. Meanwhile, Burns and senior midfielder Mavrick Rodriguez continued to threaten by getting behind the defense.
Gervais had a fantastic low volley which looked destined to sting the lower right corner. It hit the inside of the post and rolled away from the goal with 19 minutes to go in the first half.
The Demons attacked shortly after and earned a corner kick. Burns got his head on a great service but it was cleared off the line by an Alamosa defender. This clearance went right back to Burns who finished from close range to put the Demons up 1-0 with 17 minutes left.
Durango continued to hold possession and attack. Burns got the ball in the midfield, had a beautiful give-and-go with a teammate, shot around the top of the 18-yard box and kissed the ball off the lower left post and in. Durango led 2-0 with 14 minutes left.
“He’s been huge,” Ackerman said about Burns. “Tonight was his best performance. No matter the opponent, he was doing everything right, playing back to goal, one and two-touch and still providing those goals at the end of it. It was his most well-rounded performance.”
Gervais had another great run down the left side and fired a shot with his left foot but the Alamosa keeper made a nice save with about four minutes left.
The Demons continued to pressure and finally, Gervais got a good bounce and found the back of the net. His shot from the right side got deflected and went in to put the Demons up 3-0 at half.
“He’s extremely versatile,” Ackerman said about Gervais. “He helps the attack even though his main role is to defend. Then with set pieces from the right side, I prefer an inswinger so he does a great job with free kicks and corners. He’s a huge asset for us.”
Durango got back on the board four minutes into the second half. The Demons had numerous shots in the attacking third. Burns got a rebound and chipped it high in the air and over the reach of the Alamosa keeper to put the Demons up 4-0.
Chances kept coming in the second half, Masterson was taken down in the box and converted his penalty kick in the lower left corner for a 5-0 lead with 15 minutes left.
Palacios scored with 12 minutes to go to put the Demons up 6-0.
The Demons face Montrose at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. Montrose is first in the 5A/4A Southwestern League at 4-0 and is 6-1 overall. The Red Hawks are ranked fourth in 4A.
Ackerman said he wants his team to be more efficient as Durango shot 38 times to get those six goals. But Ackerman is happy to see the goals and confidence flowing.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
