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Durango boys soccer scores four in win over Evergreen

Demons clinical in front of goal

The Durango High School boys soccer team’s offense was firing on all cylinders Saturday afternoon, as the Demons put four past Evergreen High School in a 4-0 non-conference win at DHS.

The breakthrough appeared to be coming for the Demons from the opening whistle after Durango got off to a fast start. In the eighth minute of the game, Logan Stettler had a shot from 25-yards out hit the top of the crossbar, but the Demons continued to search for an early goal.

It came two minutes later in the 10th minute. Sayer Frontella received a brilliant through ball pass, and Frontella ran onto it and slotted it into the bottom left corner of the net for the early 1-0 lead.

“I thought today was a much better overall performance from the team,” said DHS head coach Aaron Champenoy. “Defensively, we were much more solid against a good opponent, were able to keep the shut out and I thought our back line played really well together. We did a good job of transition, especially when we were playing against the wind in the second half.”

The Cougars (3-7, 2-1, 4A Jefferson County League) did create a fair number of chances in the first half, including from three corner kicks, but were unable to make the most of them. Evergreen head coach Ross Fowler said he was disappointed that his side did not make the most of its chances, particularly in the second half.

“Durango is a good team, so take nothing away from them,” Fowler said. “I don’t think we played to our normal standard. Durango was physical and were cleaner with the ball than we were. Not happy with the way we defended, particularly in the first half against the wind. Three goals conceded against the wind, and that probably played a factor, but we didn’t take advantage of that when we had it.”

In the latter stages of the first half, DHS freshman midfielder Cedar Newman scored his third goal of the season after he pounced on a partially-cleared free kick and volleyed it into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0 in the 34th minute.

“The ball came in, I came across from my run and I finished it across the goal,” Newman said. “Just tucked it in the far post. It felt really good though. Overall, I thought it went really well today. There were some good finishes, and it was one of our better games of the season.”

Champenoy was impressed with the freshman left winger, and said he has made the most of his playing time.

“You know, the freshman has probably one of the best strike rates in the state right now as far as minutes on varsity per goal,” quipped Champenoy. “It was a clinical finish. He stayed composed, let it come down and hit it first time on the volley to the back corner. We’ve been working on a lot of things and he was just in the right spot. All four of our goals today were good goals.”

Durango added a third just two minutes later when Leland Heinicke tracked down a long ball played over the top, and he beat the goalkeeper, who rushed out to try and make a quick save. Heinicke chipped the ball over him and it rolled in for a three-goal lead. That was the score at halftime, as the Demons’ offense scored at least three goals in the first half for the second time in as many days.

In the second half, both teams were kept off of the scoreboard despite a number of good looks. In the 57th minute, Moritz Rosik drove down the right flank, took two dribbles inside and hit the post.

On the hour mark, Frontella received a straight red card after an incident occurred off the ball, and the Demons were reduced to 10 men for the remaining 20 minutes of the match.

“If I could appeal it on video, I would,” Champenoy said. “It is what it is.”

The Cougars were able to generate a few chances after going up a man, but a corner kick from Cully Freeman was corralled by senior goalkeeper Caleb McGrath just eight minutes from full time, and Evergreen was kept off of the scoreboard.

Rosik scored just moments before the match ended in stoppage time, and made the most of a one-on-one situation after he received a through ball over the top. All alone inside the 18-yard box, Rosik performed a skill move that fooled the goalkeeper, and had an open goal to slot it home to for the final goal of the game.

The Demons will travel to Grand Junction where they will take on the Indians next Saturday at 2 p.m. at Canyon View Park.

bploen@durangoherald.com