Durango High School’s boys soccer team is building a nice head of steam at the right time.
Tuesday’s 10-0 shutout of Montezuma-Cortez (1-5, 1-3 3A Region 5) gave the Demons (4-2) the confidence and momentum they need heading into a tough Class 4A/5A Southwestern League schedule beginning with Friday’s match against longtime rival Montrose.
“Our league is going to be hard this year,” Durango head coach Dalon Parker said. “We won it last year, and by no means did we get worse. That being said and looking around the league, I think every team has gotten better. Fruita (Monument) looks really good; they’re beating Front Range teams. Montrose is consistent, and their coach (James Pavich) always has them ready to play. Grand Junction always hangs in there, so it’s going to be a fight.”
If Tuesday’s match was any indication, the Durango offense is firing on all cylinders.
Sophomore Elijah Fenton had two goals in the first nine minutes, and the team had a 6-0 lead by the 16th minute. Luke Stetler’s goal in the 54th minute ended the match early.
“We’ve done a lot of work this week finishing and working on combination plays to get ready for these tough games,” Parker said. “I’m proud of how our guys came to play from the get-go and finished (Tuesday), but we have to keep improving and working hard.”
Fenton’s finished with three goals, and his hat trick led the Demons. Luke and Mason Stetler had two goals each, and Sam Dekay, Connor Henry and Blake McLean also found the back of the net.
The only blemish of the day for Durango was a red card issued to Mads Bundgaard for excessive questioning of foul calls. The card will be contested by Parker. If the ruling is upheld, Bundgaard will be suspended for the 5 p.m. Friday game against Montrose (3-2, 1-0 SWL).
“He (the referee) told me the red card was for dissent, and we have to take responsibility for that and keep our mouths shut if we don’t like a call,” Parker said. “It’s tough because we need him for the next game. It’s such a great rivalry that it doesn’t matter whether one team is undefeated or the other hasn’t won a game yet, it’s always close. If we could sell tickets to this game, it would be sold out.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
