Head coach Aaron Champenoy wasn’t pleased with how close the final score was, but his Durango High School boys soccer team was happy to get away from a rival school with a big road win Wednesday.
The Demons (6-2, 3-0 5A/4A Southwestern League) remained unbeaten in league and stretched their winning streak to five games with a 4-3 victory at Montrose High School (4-5, 2-1 SWL).
Champenoy was especially happy to see the Demons’ first two goals come on set-piece plays.
“We worked on set pieces this week and scored on two of them that we worked on,” the second-year Demons coach said. “So, that was good to see the work in practice show up on the field.”
All four of Durango’s goals came from different players, while Montrose received a pair of goals from star senior Sean Alex.
Durango opened the scoring in the fifth minute on a corner kick taken by Logan Stetler. Senior AJ Carlson was able to connect on the corner and score to make it 1-0 early. Shortly after, junior Sayer Frontella scored on a direct free kick from outside the 18-yard box to give the Demons a 2-0 advantage.
“We decided to take a nap defensively and let off the gas,” Champenoy said of play after his side took a 2-0 lead. “They scored two goals in a three-minute stretch of each other to make it 2-2.”
The teams then battled up and down the field before Durango took a 3-2 advantage shortly before halftime, as Braden Lyons scored off an assist from Frontella.
“We made some adjustments at halftime and thought we did a much better job in the second half defending them and limiting their chances,” Champenoy said.
Durango added an insurance goal in the 71st minute when Leland Heinicke scored with another assist from Frontella.
Champenoy was miffed when Durango goalkeeper Levi Larson was whistled for a six-second rule violation for holding onto the ball for too long in the final minute of the game. Champenoy said his players, which had run down the field, were not allowed time to get back on defense, and Montrose’s Alex took advantage and scored on a quick indirect free kick.
The Demons will complete the first half of the league schedule at 2 p.m. Saturday against Fruita Monument (5-3, 1-1 SWL) at Canyon View Park in Grand Junction.
“I think we’re improving as the year goes on,” Champenoy said. “Offensively, we’re clocking and tough to stop. Defensively, we have some thing to work on to tighten up a bit. We split our goalkeepers tonight between Caleb McGrath and Levi Larson, and both had big saves when we needed and did a great job.
“Saturday is a big game for us, and a win would make us unbeaten after playing everyone in the league once. It would put us in good position for the back half of the league schedule.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
