The Durango High School girls soccer team lost in a 1-0 decision Friday to Fruita Monument in 5A/4A Southwestern League action.
The Demons (3-3, 1-1 5A/4A Southwestern League) had chances to even the score after the Wildcats struck first in the 44th minute.
Fruita Monument (5-2, 3-0 SWL) was able to weather Durango’s attack to secure the shutout.
“There were times where we controlled the game and times where we didn’t,” said DHS head coach Jonathan Berzins. “We were super organized, and it’s something to build off of. They battled really hard out there and gave us an opportunity to tie the game and win, but we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
Durango will face Montrose (6-1, 1-0 SWL), the fifth-ranked team in the Colorado High School Activity Association’s Class 4A poll, at 11 a.m. Saturday in Montrose.
Del Norte scored twice in a 10-minute spurt spanning two halves Friday afternoon at Bayfield High School to take down the Wolverines 2-1 in Class 3A/2A Southwestern League play.
Bayfield (1-3, 0-1 SWL) had not played a game in one month because of spring break, but that didn’t stop freshman forward Madison Oltmanns, who struck in the game’s opening minute to give her side an early 1-0 lead.
The Tigers (3-1-2, 3-1-2 SWL) were able to break through the Wolverine defense and scored very late in the first half, as junior defender Grace Whitehorn scored in the 38th minute to tie the game at 1-all. That is how the sides went into halftime.
In the second half, Del Norte found the go-ahead goal through senior midfielder Brianna Gallegos, as she scored in the 46th minute. Gallegos’ shot hit the near post and came out across the goal line before trickling off of the far post and in.
BHS would create more chances but did not find the equalizer. Sophomore goalkeeper Jaden Cooper made nine saves for the Wolverines, who will travel to play Pagosa Springs (2-2-2, 1-0-1 SWL) at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Pagosa.
The Bobcats also fell in league action Friday afternoon, as Crested Butte topped the Bobcats 10-0 at Gunnison High School.
The Titans (6-1-1, 6-0-1 Class 2A Region 4), ranked No. 4 in the latest 2A poll, scored seven times in the first half to make it 7-0. They would go on to find the back of the net three more times in the second half to make it 10-0 to end the match.
Ignacio (0-3, 0-2 Class 2A Region 4) will travel to Center (0-5 Class 2A Region 4) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Center High School.
Boys Lacrosse
Boys LacrosseThe Durango High School boys lacrosse team had a tough go Friday evening, as it fell 23-6 to Fruita Monument.
Fruita (5-1, 4-0 5A/4A Mountain League) was able to get past a stingy Durango defense in the second half after the Wildcats led by just two after the first and five at halftime.
“In the second half, their slides were excellent and it was really tough to stop them once they got going,” said DHS head coach John Robinette. “They’d slide once and we’d be there. The second slide, we’d be there. It was the third that got us, and at that point they had an open net because (goalie Dylan Gaver) was trying to stop that extra pass from happening.”
Durango (4-2, 0-2 ML) was able to keep pace with Fruita in the first half largely because of senior attackman Cullen Robinette, who scored four goals and added an assist on 11 shots on goal. The second half was a different story, as Fruita shut down the Demons’ cog in the offense and DHS was shutout.
“When we did get the ball in the second half, their defense was really good,” coach Robinette said. “We were 0-for-2 on extra-man opportunities, and they just really closed a lot of our shooting lanes. On the other end, we already have a practice plan for Monday, defensive slides. We have to do a lot better on that end, and all over for us to come away with a victory on Saturday.”
Dylan Berridge had six ground balls and led the team in faceoffs, going 7-for-16. Gaver finished with 12 saves.
Durango will visit Grand Junction at 11 a.m. Saturday.
bploen@durangoherald.com
