Fruita scores league soccer title in Durango

The Durango High School girls soccer team hosted Fruita Monument on Thursday with the 5A/4A Southwestern League title still up for grabs.

Fruita entered the game with an unblemished league record after giving Durango its only loss, 4-1, earlier in the year. So the Demons needed to win the game, and by a big enough margin to cover the goal differential to claim the league title.

Fruita, however, beat Durango a second time, 2-1, and won the league outright.

“We came out pretty flat and didn’t play to our full potential,” said DHS coach Hope Fredrick. “But props to them. Fruita is a good team.”

Neither team scored in the first half. Carter Neiman kicked the ball out of bounds to stop one Fruita opportunity, and Emy Mattox cut off a Fruita player to stop another. Goalie Jocelyn Feir made a couple of stops, and Bella Saren headed away a corner kick.

Sarah Somrak had one of Durango’s best chances to score, taking a cross body shot with her left foot, but FMHS goalie Amber Rice made the save.

The Wildcats hit the post with a shot about 30 seconds into the second half, and Feir saved a long lob shot a few minutes later.

Durango threatened after Emery Miller connected with Mason Rowland, resulting in a corner kick. Riley Campbell took the corner, and Rowland got a head on it, but Rice made a diving save.

Fruita got on the scoreboard first when Isabella Sasich sailed a long shot over Feir’s head with 27:54 left.

The Demons, however, quickly tied the game. Campbell took another corner kick and placed the ball near the far post, where Rowland was able to head it in.

“I was proud of the fight, especially in the second half,” Fredrick said.

The Demons continued pressuring Fruita, but the Wildcats retook the lead with a little over 13 minutes remaining. Kylie Wells centered the ball across the goal to Regan Dare, and Dare was able to finish for Fruita.

With time winding down, Durango continued attacking. Adde Neiman blasted a shot from 35 yards out that narrowly missed wide. Campbell put a free kick on target, but her shot was saved. Then, with five minutes left, Carter Neiman was awarded a free kick. Her shot bent to the left side of the goal, but Rice made a diving save. On the ensuing corner, several Demons jumped to try and head the ball in, but the ball was just over their heads, and Fruita held on for the win.

The Demons finish their regular season 13-2 overall and 6-2 in the SWL. Fruita finishes 13-2, 8-0. Since the Wildcats are in Class 5A, however, the loss shouldn’t hurt Durango much when 4A state brackets are released Sunday. The Demons are ranked No. 4 in Class 4A and likely will host a first-round game on Wednesday.