If there wasn’t already a blueprint for how to win a playoff game on the road as an underdog, Littleton’s girls soccer team drew up the plan and executed perfectly Wednesday afternoon.
The No. 21 Lions (10-6) got off the bus after the seven-hour drive and had one thing in mind, and the goal was to score early. In the 18th minute, Littleton sophomore Sarah Payson did just that. Her blast from 30 yards out was the only tally, as Littleton ended No. 12 Durango’s season with a 1-0 upset win at Riverview Park.
The Lions will advance to play No. 6 Air Academy in the second round.
“There’s a lot to think about on that long ride, and we wanted to score early,” Payson said. “I hit it good, but I thought it was high. When it went in, I was kind of shocked.”
Payson wasn’t the only one shocked by the quick strike. The big crowd at Riverview Park fell silent. The desperation and anxiety grew with each passing minute with the young Demons (11-5) being forced to play from behind.
“We wanted to put pressure on them early,” said Littleton head coach Terry Banfield. “You couldn’t have wished for a better start. It was just a great shot.”
Several near misses in the first half only caused the tension to mount. Demons junior Lane Arnwine created numerous opportunities, and senior Maddie Robertson almost tied the game twice with two free kicks that barely missed the frame.
“I thought the first free kick I took was in,” said Robertson, daughter of Jim and Susie Robertson. “They put the pressure on us early, and we didn’t play with the urgency we needed to until after they scored.”
The second half saw more near-misses by Arnwine and the Demons, and Littleton did a masterful job of draining the clock and limiting chances. Durango only had three shots on Lions goalkeeper Lily Jensen.
“We knew it would take just one mistake, and that’s the way it went,” said Durango head coach Dalon Parker. “After that, we were just chasing and couldn’t get the good touch.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
