Senior day couldn’t have gone much better for the Durango High School girls lacrosse team.
The Demons scored 14 seconds into the game and didn’t stop in a 23-0 victory against Eagle Valley on Saturday at DHS.
It was Durango’s highest-scoring output of the season and a school record for goals in a single game.
Angela Grogan, a senior, found the back of the net first on a feed from Tymbree Hawkins. Grogan finished the game with five goals, which was good for second on the team.
DHS junior Payton Randle stole the show from the seniors with eight goals and three assists in the game.
“I found myself open a lot, and I would look to the person who had the ball and nod my head,” said Randle, daughter of Erin and John Randle. “I was just kind of in a zone – ready to go.”
DHS (5-8, 3-4 Mountain League) led 15-0 at halftime before slightly letting off the gas. The Demons still scored eight goals in the second half but decided late in the game to not shoot, instead focusing on passing and possession.
“It’s tricky to be diplomatic but also play lacrosse at the same time,” Randle said.
Eleven of Durango’s 23 goals were assisted.
“We really got to focus on lacrosse and not being so competitive,” said Hawkins, daughter of Denise and Ty Hawkins.
Hawkins, who will sign her national letter of intent to play lacrosse at Fort Lewis College on Monday, led the Demons with four assists, and she also scored two goals.
Alyssa Swan picked up a hat trick and an assist, and Kelsey Pool had one goal and one assist. Darren Candelaria and Shayley Hawkins each had one goal to round out Durango’s scoring.
“It was a nice way to end our season, a good way to wrap it up and just play lacrosse,” said Candelaria, daughter of Beth and Jim Candelaria.
Durango’s defense pitched a shutout without allowing Eagle Valley (1-11, 1-10 ML) to get a shot off.
DHS goalie Megan Pope didn’t have to make any saves.
The Demons’ underclassmen played for much of the second half, but DHS head coach Jenni Darlow put her seniors back on the field at the end of the game.
“The girls on the sideline were talking about that,” Darlow said. “They were like, ‘This is perfect. This is what we can work on next year.’”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
Senior Day
Deryn Candelaria
Angela Grogan
Tymbree Hawkins
Abby Jackson
Emma Marshall
Sheila Prentice
Jessie Sutherlin
Durango Herald
