The Durango girls soccer team was rewarded for its stellar play to end the season with a four-seed in the 4A state playoffs.
Traveling to Durango High School for the first round matchup on Wednesday at 6 p.m. is Dakota Ridge.
The Eagles are the 29th seed in the 4A state playoffs after finishing 7-6-1 overall and 3-4 in the 4A Jefferson County League.
“This tournament is anyone's tournament,” Durango girls soccer head coach Melissa Halonen said. “Whether or not they're the same team as they were last year, they still won states last year. So they have that experience. They still have some of those players there which makes them a threat.”
Dakota Ridge started the season with back-to-back losses, then went on a nine-game hot streak, going 7-1-1 in that span. However, the Eagles bring a three-game losing streak to end the season into this matchup.
“I'm looking forward to a good game,” Halonen said. “I don't think that we can take any game lightly at this point. But I also have full confidence in our team that we're playing the best soccer we've played all season right now. If we continue to do so then I think we'll be successful.”
Junior Ava Arnold leads Dakota Ridge with 18 goals which is 10th best in 4A. Eagles freshman Sydney Jussel had eight goals and 10 assists on the season.
Although this Eagles team hasn’t had the best season, the Dakota Ridge program has a championship pedigree.
As the two seed last season, Dakota Ridge won the 4A state championship by beating top seed Lutheran 2-0. But the Eagles lost their goalie who led Colorado in saves and their top two scorers.
The Demons have a 9-2-3 record this season. They started the season 1-2-1 but haven't lost a game since. Durango brings a six-game winning streak into this game.
Senior Emery Miller leads Durango with 10 goals, followed by junior Bella Saren's seven. Freshman Lila Scherer-Sickler and Emery Miller both have six assists on the season. Miller's 26 points lead Durango, with Saren's 19 being second.
Durango will look to advance farther in the state playoffs than it did last year. The Demons got to the second round as a nine-seed but fell to eighth-seeded Mullen 3-2.
The Demons are looking to replicate their performance from 2022, when they were seeded third and made a run to the state semifinals before losing to eventual champs Northfield 1-0.
Girls lacrosse hits the road to play Steamboat Springs on Wednesday
The Durango girls lacrosse team is the 18-seed in the 4A girls lacrosse state playoffs and will play 15-seed Steamboat Springs on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The game was initially scheduled for Tuesday night but was moved because of weather.
“As far as having to travel for an away game, in the playoffs situation, we drew as good as we could hope for,” Durango girls lacrosse coach Eric Elliot said.
Elliot thought the Demons could’ve dropped lower in the seeding with their loss to Roaring Fork and Durango could’ve played Denver South, the opponent the Demons lost to in the second round of the playoffs last year.
Steamboat Springs finished the regular season 8-7 overall and 5-5 in the 4A Mountain East League. The Sailors started the season 6-1 before finishing it 2-6.
Freshman Julia Sturges leads Steamboat Springs with 55 goals which is 12th best in 4A.
“She’s pretty fast and she's pretty quick,” Elliot said about Sturges. “So she'll be difficult to slow down. If we can contain her we'll be good. We have a pretty good game plan for wrapping her up in the midfield. We have Taylor (Babcock) who’s pretty quick and pretty fast. But more importantly, she has that attitude about her where she doesn't like to get beat.”
Elliot said Sturges is responsible for about 70% of the Sailors’ offense but Steamboat Springs doesn’t have the assist numbers the Demons have.
Most of Durango’s team has playoff experience. Elliot said that’s a key and the Demons played Cherokee Trail earlier in the season to experience a team with girls who play club like many playoff teams.
Elliot also mentioned he expects the refs to let the girls play more in the playoffs compared to the regular season. This plays into Durango’s hands with its aggressive style of play.
If Durango wins, it will play Evergreen in the second round on Thursday.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
