The Durango High girls soccer team has been consistently one of the school’s best programs, and there are a lot of reasons to believe the Demons can continue their strong form in 2026.
Last season was one of the best Durango has had in recent memory. The Demons finished the season 14-4 overall, a perfect 10-0 in the 6A/5A Southwestern League, and made it to the 4A state quarterfinals, where they lost to Lutheran, 3-0. It wasn’t a shocking win/loss record to look back on since Durango has had six consecutive winning seasons.
This season, the Demons are ready to get back to that point and further as they begin their season on Friday on the road. Durango lost some key pieces, but brings back a core of young talent and experienced veterans ready to defend the Demons’ league title.
“I’m extremely excited to start this season off with this group of talented young ladies,” second-year head coach Zac Keeler said.
The Demons started practice on Feb. 23 with tryouts, and had the first practice post-tryouts on Thursday with a team-bonding practice, focusing on the team’s goals and expectations for themselves. Keeler was very pleased to hear how his squad wants to have a better team dynamic and chemistry. They want to help each other get better as a group, on and off the field.
Durango lost a strong senior class, including first team all-league seniors Lauren McClellan, Peyton Cioppa and Emma Hyder.
McClellan was a very consistent player for the Demons and helped Durango have a fantastic defense. She showed strength with her tackles, touch with her passes up the field and composure on the back line. Cioppa was a fantastic connector for the Demons in the midfield as one of the only Demons who could consistently beat her defender one-on-one. Hyder was a fantastic option on offense with her height on set pieces and touch around the goal. She led the team with 26 points, finishing with nine goals and a team-high eight assists.
Other valuable seniors have graduated, including Bella Saren a quality goalscorer, and defenders that made goalkeeper Ryne Neiman’s job pretty easy most of the season, Lilly Fitzpatrick, Emily McVaugh and Ameila Scott.
Despite these losses, the Demons have plenty of players ready to step up, including senior Josie Phare, who is one of the best finishers on the team after leading the Demons with 11 goals last season. Another quality option on offense is junior Ellis Campbell, who finished with nine goals and three assists last season, playing on the wing. She has one of the better crosses on the team.
Keeler likes how versatile Campbell is with how she can contribute to the attack, but also how strong of a defender she is. Opponents better be ready when she’s looking to win the ball back, Keeler said.
Another talented player on offense is junior Lila Scherer-Sickler, who finished with six goals and five assists as a sophomore, including a game-winning goal in the playoffs against Riverdale Ridge.
“Lila is fantastic at one-on-one situations, offensively and defensively,” Keeler said. “She's very creative ... she's been working on her creativity, distribution and also taking on players on her own. She puts her opponent on their heels and makes them look silly .... If anyone wants to see some future stars, both Ellis and Lila are definitely driven to become the next best players in Durango High School.”
The Demons will have a mostly new backline on defense. Keeler is excited about junior Aletta Holley’s ability at center back. Last year, McClellan was a solid one-on-one defender, whereas Holley is different with her ability to move the ball up the field to start Durango’s attack.
Another defender stepping into a bigger role is sophomore Sierra Phillips. who is a solid cover defender, according to Keeler. Junior Gracie Fitzpatrick will be playing on the outside defending and filling the spot her older sister left. Keeler was impressed with how Fitzpatrick finished the season understanding that position.
Behind them will be Neiman, a senior heading into her fourth year starting as the Demons’ goalkeeper. Neiman will be around the Durango soccer community for a few years after this since she’s committed to play for Fort Lewis College.
“She is going to be the heart of this team,” Keeler said. “Players count on her to have a huge performance every game. Last season, she didn’t get to touch the ball much with how solid our defense was. If the ball somehow makes it through our back line, she will be there to stop it ... she’s also been working on her distribution this summer.”
The Demons will have nearly identical schedule as last season, opponents wise. Keeler is excited for his second year, as he’s learned to put his faith in his players’ soccer IQ and how hard they work. He knows a lot of local coaches have made these girls into the players they are today, and he feels responsible to put them in the best positions possible to succeed.
After going undefeated in league play, Keeler is excited to face Palisade and Fruita Monument this season after those teams gave Durango good games.
“We may be younger than we were these past couple years, but these girls have great experience on the field,” Keeler said. “They've been playing since they were 6 years old ... Each day, they are making sure that nobody is playing soft. They want to get back at that quarterfinals game against Lutheran. They want to get back to that level of play.”
bkelly@durangoherald.com
