Durango High School can win its first girls soccer league championship in a decade with a win Thursday. It wouldn’t have been possible without a win Tuesday, first.
The Demons (10-4, 6-1 SWL) were anxious to return home with a win Tuesday after a trip to Grand Junction High School (8-6, 2-5 SWL). Durango scored in the opening 15 minutes of play and added two more in the first half to secure a 3-1 victory.
“We came out strong and consistent,” DHS head coach Dalon Parker said. “The first half, we set the pace and tone. It was good to see the girls take care of business because you never want to look ahead to that next game.”
Lane Arnwine struck first with an assist from Chloe Taylor. Grand Junction tied the game at 1-1 with a goal off a corner kick after what Parker said was the Tigers’ only attack of the game. Emma Aggeler scored the game-winning goal moments later thanks to an assist from Kayla Rubinstein. Taylor tacked on one more goal for good measure, assisted by Arnwine.
The Demons will return home for their regular-season finale at 5 p.m. Thursday against Grand Junction Central. A win would solidify the Demons’ first league title in 10 years. DHS lost a tiebreaker with Fruita Monument via goal differential in head-to-head matchups last year. This year, Durango owns the tiebreaker against Fruita by one goal.
“We hope to see a big crowd,” Parker said of Thursday’s game. “A league title, we’re playing for that, but we’re also celebrating five seniors who have been in the program for four years and have had great success. We want a big crowd making a lot of noise. The girls deserve to feel special.”
Britaney Hampton scored twice, and the Panthers beat the Wolverines at home Tuesday.
Montezuma-Cortez used Hampton’s two goals as well as scores from Madi Archuleta and Rylee Lindsley to secure a 4-1 win against Bayfield.
The Panthers (7-7, 5-5 3A Region 5) scored twice in each half. Bayfield (5-9, 3-5 3A Region 5) tallied its goal in the final minute of play, as Misty Helton blasted a 40-yard free kick that bent inside the right post for a goal.
Bayfield will get a chance at one more game this season. Last Saturday’s road game at Telluride was postponed by weather. The game will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Baseball
BaseballExtremely short notice didn’t bother the Bobcats.
Ignacio High School added a game against Center on Tuesday afternoon. The Bobcats kept their winning ways going with a 7-5 win. The win improved the team’s record to 9-8 overall, and they stand at 5-5 in 2A District 3/5.
Dalton LeBarthe spun 4 2/3 innings of brilliant relief pitching for the Bobcats on Tuesday to earn the win. He allowed only two hits and struck out three to go with three walks. Two runs crossed under his watch, one was earned. He relieved Zach Weinreich, who went 2 1/3 innings and allowed three runs – two earned. He walked six and struck out five to go with three hits allowed.
Cole McCaw was a force at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a run batted in. Weinreich went 1-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Joe Herrera went 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI, and Trace Lovelace also went 2-for-4 with a double and a run.
IHS will finish the regular season at Montezuma-Cortez at 11 a.m. Saturday. A win would be the Bobcats’ fourth in a row and sixth in their last seven games.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
