Seeded higher in the state tournament than they’ve been in more than a decade, the No. 9 Demons are focused on reversing history.
The Durango High School girls soccer team hasn’t advanced past the first round of the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A Girls Soccer State Championships in seven of its last eight appearances and was the higher seed in five of those matchups.
After claiming the 5A/4A Southwestern League title for the first time since 2012, a talented group of players have zeroed in their focus to No. 24 Cañon City.
“Our motto this time is ‘pressure is a privilege,’” DHS head coach Dalon Parker said. “If you have an opportunity that brings on pressure, it usually means you’re doing something right to get in that situation. The recent history of this program has been a few good teams that got decent seeds and choked.”
Kickoff of Wednesday’s first-round game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Durango High School. Here’s a closer look at the matchup:
No. 9 Durango
Mascot: Demons
Head coach: Dalon Parker
Colors: Red, white
Enrollment: 1,110
Record: 11-4, SWL champions
Goals for: 34
Goals allowed: 20
Goals Scorer: Taylor Klone, 7
Assists leader: Chloe Taylor, 6
Goalkeeper: Emily Badgley, 7-3
Roster: No. 1 Susu Gustavson, jr.; No. 2 Emma Aggeler, jr.; No. 3 Autumn Stevens, jr.; No. 4 Livi Curmano, sr.; No. 5 Jael Larson, fr.; No. 6 Hannah Coster, fr.; No. 7 Madeline Dearien, jr.; No. 8 Peyton Floyd, sr.; No. 9 Mikayla Neidlinger, sr.; No. 10 Chloe Taylor, sr.; No. 11 Taylor Klone, jr.; No. 12 Hailey Anderson, jr.; No. 13 Jenna Beckley, jr.; No. 14 Lydia Schertz, so.; No. 15 Caroline Knight, so.; No. 16 Mara Morrissey, jr.; No. 17 Mo Murray, so.; No. 18 Caleigh McClain, so.; No. 19 Lydia Larson, jr.; No. 20 Kayla Rubinstein, so.; No. 21 Lane Arnwine, sr.; No. 22 Emily Badgley, fr.; No. 23 Sarah Vierling, so.
No. 24 Cañon City
Mascot: Tigers
Head coach: Pat Callahan
Colors: Black, gold
Enrollment: 1,1030
Record: 11-3-1, Colorado Springs Metro League runner-up
Goals for: 67
Goals allowed: 26
Goals leader: Macy French, 14 goals
Assists leader: Kiley O’Rourke, Kate Tedquist, 8
Goalkeeper: Lizzy McCalla, 11-4
Roster: No. 1 Lily Nordell, sr.; No. 2 Kate Tedquist, fr.; No. 4 Roxanne Murray, sr.; No. 5 Abigail Rupp, fr.; No. 6 Lily Nordell, sr.; No. 7 Sierra Bolton, jr.; No. 10 Macy French, so.; No. 11 Jerika Moore, fr.; No. 12 Kaylee Jennings, so.; No. 13 Tammi Chapman, jr.; No. 14 Mollie Wagner, sr.; No. 17 Lisa Miller, jr.; No. 18 Payton Kline, jr.; No. 20 Cassidy Heimel, fr.; No. 21 Mackenzie Roberts, fr.; No. 22 Kiley O’Rourke, so.; No. 23 Jordan Davis, so.; No. 24 Taylor Roberts, jr.; No. 25 Rachel Vertrees, sr.; No. 35 Lizzy McCalla, sr.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
