Over the last few years, the Durango High School girls lacrosse team has had some close heartbreaking losses to Santa Fe Prep. Friday evening at Durango High School was different.
The Demons dominated Santa Fe Prep from the first draw and won 14-2. Durango moved the ball around and got everyone involved. The Demons dominated possession with great draw control and got stops on the defensive end when needed.
It was the perfect send-off for the team’s nine seniors as a lovely senior day ceremony happened after the victory.
Durango head coach Eric Elliot said his team had Monday off to give the girls some rest since they have been working hard since January. The team came back on Tuesday with a different attitude than when they left practice last Thursday.
“We worked on high-pressure passes quite a bit over the middle in the boys’ crease,” Elliot said. “It was 14-2 and nine or 10 of those 14 goals were assisted goals and they were almost always right in front of the goalie. We had another five or six opportunities that we couldn’t corral … Out of 20 draws, we controlled 17; that was a pretty ridiculous performance by Silvie (Bosmans).”
The Demons improved to 10-2 overall with the win. Junior Taylor Babcock led the Demons with three goals and two assists while senior Silivie Bosmans had three goals and an assist. Sophomore Indie Eaton had two goals and two assists, senior Sofia Naffziger had two goals and an assist and senior Jordan Menininger had two goals and an assist. Senior goalkeeper Fiona Chandler had six saves.
Durango had a 4-0 lead after the first quarter. The Demons moved the ball around well, just like they practiced. Durango led 7-1 at halftime; Chandler made some nice saves in the first half to keep the lead at a healthy margin.
The Demons came out on fire to start the third quarter, scoring four goals in about 2:30. Santa Fe Prep looked like it was in quicksand on defense with how easily the Demons were driving by them for goals around the crease. Durango dominated draw control early in the third quarter, allowing them to continue to score.
Elliot said the second half really showed off the team’s conditioning.
Scoring resumed with a nice finish around the crease for Babcock with 5:13 left in the third. Chandler was aggressive when she needed to be, intercepting a pass across the goal to give Durango the ball back. Babcock finished again with 2:13 left for a 13-1 lead.
The fourth quarter flew by as a running clock had been instituted in the middle of the third quarter. Elliot rotated his bench in and got everyone plenty of time.
Plenty of emotions were displayed after the game as the nine seniors, Willa Anderson, Naffziger, Meininger, Eliciana Martinez, Kyana Newcomer-Ball, Ellie Casias, Bosmans, Dylan Aspen and Chandler, were accompanied by their parents in the senior day ceremony. Tears, hugs, smiles and plenty of photos were on display as the seniors realized how close they were to the end of their Demons lacrosse careers.
“They mean everything to the program,” Elliot said. “Their first year with the program was the first time we made the playoffs and we’ve made it every year since. It went from the goal to the standard.”
Durango still has a huge game on Saturday at Telluride at 11 a.m. If the Demons win, they will wrap up the league title.
Elliot said the key will be pushing the pace and playing a clean game. He thinks if the Demons play as a team, it will be a done deal.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
