Durango High School girls soccer’s only one-goal loss last season was to Delta, and the Demons made sure the 2026 matchup went the other way and wasn’t that close with a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night.
Fans, coaches and players couldn’t have dreamed of a better start for the Demons. They found open space early, connected on passes and had a 2-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game.
Delta couldn’t control possession very well, and didn’t test the Durango defense a ton in the first half as the Demons led 3-0 at the break. The teams split the second half as the Demons avenged last season’s 3-2 road loss. Durango will hope to replicate its success last year when it won 14 consecutive games after the Delta game.
“I was very impressed with our starting play,” Durango head coach Zac Keeler said. “We worked on trying to get quick throw-ins into the game, and capitalize off it on this hot day. We caught them off guard and gave us real good opportunities to get some shots and some goals.”
Durango improved to 1-1 overall with its home-opener win. Sophomore Lia Schowalter led the Demons with two goals. Senior forward Josie Phare and sophomore Emma Pritchett each had a goal for the Demons. Junior midfielder Lila Scherer-Sickler had an assist.
Delta dropped to 0-2-1 overall with the loss.
The Demons struck first, less than five minutes into the game. Schowalter got the ball on the left side of the 18-yard box, tapped it in between her defender’s legs and then tapped the ball across the goal line as the Delta keeper was out of position. Durango led 1-0 with 37 minutes left.
Only a few minutes later, Durango doubled up its advantage. Scherer-Sickler was one of the team’s best passers last season with an innate sense of where her teammates are and where the gaps in the defense are. She played a great through ball to Phare, who timed her run perfectly on the left side to be wide-open. Phare sent in an easy finish to put the Demons up 2-0 with 33:56 left in the first half.
“Josie and Lila, with a matchup with Lia as well, were a very dominating force,” Keeler said. “They definitely have some dynamic movements that get them into crucial positions on the field, which allows them to find good opportunities to score those goals … we came out fiery and wanted to prove ourselves in that match.”
Delta had a problem a lot of road teams face at Durango High School: judging the speed of the fast turf. The Panthers struggled to connect passes and instead tried to play long balls. Delta couldn’t link up with its forwards early on those long balls, and the Durango defense did a good job staying composed and making the right play.
“I’m feeling really good because I’m constantly surrounded by players I trust,” Durango defensive midfielder Jensen Quenzler said. “It really helps me be calm and comfortable on and off the ball.”
Durango continued to find wide-open space in the midfield thanks to some good passing. Sophomore Emma Pritchett used that space to fire a long-distance shot toward goal. The ball had some good zip to it, but the Delta keeper tried to trap it with her legs, and the ball went into the goal. Durango led 3-0 with 18 minutes left.
On offense, the Demons had a few good chances in the final 15 minutes of the first half, but the Durango defense had a few shaky moments.
The Demons passed the ball out of bounds deep in their half, and with less than a minute left, senior goalkeeper Ryne Neiman was called into action. Durango missed on a bouncing ball, and a Delta forward took the ball one-on-one against Neiman. The forward fired the ball into Neiman, and the senior keeper controlled it to keep Durango up 3-0 at the half.
“Everyone’s allowed to make mistakes, and Ryne is there to take care of us when those mistakes are made,” Keeler said.
Keeler wasn’t afraid to put his subs in the second half, and the Demons’ clean sheet evaporated with 15 minutes left in the second half when a Panther had a nice one-touch finish off a corner kick. Less than 45 seconds later, Durango responded with Schowalter. She got the ball in a crowded 18-yard box and finished into the lower left corner.
The Demons continued to control the possession in the second half, but didn’t have the same success getting chances on target like they did in the first half.
Next up for Durango is at Montrose on Friday at 5 p.m. to begin 4A/5A Southwestern League play. Keeler said his team needs to control the pace of the game by slowing it down compared to how the Red Hawks like to play. Durango’s next home game isn’t until April 11.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
