Kyle Robinette has 20 goals in three games. The competition hasn’t come anywhere close to keeping up with the Durango High School senior and his Demon teammates.
The Durango boys lacrosse team rolled to a 16-4 win against Telluride at home Tuesday to improve to 3-0 this season. Robinette had four goals and three assists to give him 20 goals and eight assists already this season.
“Definitely the best competition we’ve faced so far,” DHS head coach John Robinette said of Telluride (2-1). “I like the way our kids came out with confidence but weren’t cocky. They kept a level head and played a complete game all the way through.”
Tommy Rodgers added three goals and three assists. Cullen Robinette also had three goals. TJ Rifkin continued his strong start to the season with one goal and three assists. Colin Barkley added two goals and one assist, and Ryan Smith had one goal and one assist.
Easton Verduzco continued his dominance in the face-off department with 15-of-17 wins. He is now 47-of-51 in faceoffs this season.
Dylan Gaver made three saves in three quarters of action for the Demons. Eli Cagan replaced him in the fourth quarter and made six saves, as several DHS reserves saw considerable playing time.
“We’re happy to be 3-0 at home,” coach Robinette said. “Now we play Glenwood on the road Friday, and that’s a good test. The big test is Saturday with Aspen, a team we’ve never beat in the Mountain League.”
Girls Soccer
Girls SoccerA brief lapse in concentration cost the Wolverines a goal and the game Tuesday.
In the final minute of the second half, the Bayfield girls soccer team (1-1) relaxed a bit and watched Hayley Mitchell of Pagosa Springs win the ball out of the air and dribble down the field for a goal before time expired. That goal stood up despite dominant play by the Wolverines in the second half to give the Pirates (1-0) a victory.
“We sat back for a few minutes at the end of the half,” BHS head coach Jen Zelinski said. “Everybody got tired and weren’t working because they thought the half was almost over. I was upset at halftime because the way the goal went. Totally preventable. The second half, we controlled the game.”
Taylor Morris had a late shot for the Wolverines at the end of regulation, but Zelinski said the Pagosa Springs goalkeeper came out of nowhere to make a brilliant save. The Pirates double- and triple-teamed BHS striker Savannah Kaufmann all game, making it hard for her to get many opportunities on goal.
BHS will learn from its mistake and play two big games Friday and Saturday at home against Manitou Springs and St. Mary’s.
“It doesn’t matter how good the other team is if we play our way,” Zelinski said. “If it falls our way great, if it doesn’t, we will keep working.”
Girls TennisThe Durango High School girls tennis team returned from the Western Slope Open last weekend in Grand Junction with strong results against 16 teams.
No. 1 singles player Mavis Edwards placed second in the A bracket with a 6-3 loss to Lakewood’s Olivia Desso in the final. Maggie Hackett was second in the B bracket at No. 2 singles after a tough 7-6 (7-5) loss in a tiebreaker to Kyra Rothwell of Palmer Ridge. No. 3 singles player Emma Hackett won her B bracket with a 6-1 win in the final against Taitom Riggle of Palmer Ridge.
“It was great to see how Emma figured out how best to beat a net rusher,” DHS assistant coach Sue Lawton said. “All three of the Durango Demon singles players just played better as the tournament went on.”
The Demons won two brackets in doubles play. Jenna Engelken and Chloe West defeated a Steamboat Springs team 7-6 to win the B bracket. Lily Chick and Emily West won the A bracket with a 7-5 win against Palmer Ridge.
The No. 3 doubles team of Ruby Decora and Emma Jaber placed second in the A bracket after a 6-4 loss to Palmer Ridge. Ryann Daly and Mira Joyner placed third after a 6-2 loss to eventual bracket winner Heritage.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
