It was easy to get up for Friday’s game after suffering a tough loss a week ago.
The Durango High School girls soccer team bounced back in fashion after a 1-0 home loss to Sand Creek last Saturday. The Demons hit the road again to face Class 4A/5A Southwestern League rival Montrose and earned a big 2-0 victory to move to 4-0 in league and maintain the top spot in the league standings.
“It’s a big win for us,” DHS head coach Dalon Parker said. “We had a disappointing loss to Sand Creek, so it was nice to go into a rivalry game at Montrose. Everyone knows in Durango that it’s hard to win in Montrose.”
DHS (6-2, 4-0 SWL) struck quick in the first half thanks to a corner-kick opportunity. Taylor Klone took the corner, and Durango’s Emma Aggeler was able to finish a shot in front of a goal after a scrap in front of goal. The score came 20 minutes into play.
The Demons struggled a bit in the midfield late in the first half and at the start of the second half, allowing Montrose (3-4-1, 0-2 SWL) to take some control. Luckily, Durango goalkeeper Leah Stephens controlled the box and made six saves.
Durango made a few changes and reclaimed control in time for Autumn Stevens to score a goal with 10 minutes left. She took a direct free kick from 28 yards out and buried a shot near-post.
It was the Demons’ second win of the season against Montrose, with the first coming at the Air Academy Tournament.
Not only did the Demons have to deal with a tough Montrose side, they also played in inclement weather conditions.
“We played in five different conditions in an hour,” Parker said. “It was wet, raining, snowing, all of it.”
Parker said the team excelled in winning the first and second balls out of the air, and the defense did a good job turning away Montrose’s attempts at long passes over the top of the Demons’ back line.
DHS will have another tough game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fruita Monument (5-3, 3-0 SWL).
“They’re pretty good, and it’s a big game for us,” Parker said. “We keep coming to the other side of the mountain and winning games here. It’s building our confidence, especially for a team supposedly in a rebuilding year.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
