The Durango and Grand Junction girls soccer teams were so excited to get the Colorado High School Activities Association’s 5A/4A Southwestern League season underway Friday they put in extra time to decide the winner.
After two scoreless halves, Durango’s Lane Arnwine scored the golden goal shortly into extra time, as the Demons prevailed 1-0. Payton Floyd set up Arnwine’s game-winner, and Leah Stephens was spotless in net with six saves to lead Durango in the league-opening win.
“It was a sloppy game, but any win in Grand Junction is a good win,” Durango head coach Dalon Parker said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “I felt like we were the better team for much of the game, and we had plenty of opportunities. The girls just kept plugging away, and I’m just glad we finally got one to go.”
The game-winner came after the Demons forced a Grand Junction turnover on the first overtime possession. Arnwine and Floyd had a nice give-and-go play that culminated, as Floyd found Arnwine at the top of the box who nailed a left-footed strike into the corner for the win.
“We’d been dominating for the last 25 minutes and just couldn’t get one to go,” Parker said. “We took the ball from them right away and the buildup to the goal was great. You could tell it was coming.”
Durango (3-1, 1-0 SWL) had numerous chances to go ahead in regulation time, but some point-blank misses, a crossbar and some fine goalkeeping from the Grand Junction keeper kept the visitors off the scoreboard. Instead of getting frustrated, the Demons kept at it and finally broke through.
The Tigers (1-3, 0-1 SWL) gave Stephens, Durango’s goalie, some pressure as well, and she was up to the task every time she was called upon.
“Leah was phenomenal (Friday),” Parker said. “A lot of their chances were coming from 20-25 yards out, and they were shooting high on her which is a tough stop to make in girls soccer. Leah stopped every one.”
It’ll be a quick turnaround for the Demons as they willplay at 11 a.m. Saturday against Grand Junction Central.
jfries@durangoherald.com
