The Durango High School boys soccer team held a 3-1 lead at halftime Wednesday and was ready to continue the attack. Montrose countered the Demons and stormed back to earn a 3-3 draw in a key 5A/4A Southwestern League game.
Montrose (5-2-1, 0-1-1 SWL) took an early 1-0 lead, but Durango (6-1-1, 2-1-1 SWL) scored 15 seconds later to tie the game. Jack Beattie delivered the score for the Demons.
DHS was sparked by that goal and added two more goals in the next 15 minutes to take a 3-1 lead into intermission.
“We took momentum, firing on all cylinders,” DHS head coach Dalon Parker said. “We came out in the second half, and they came with a very direct style of play and took away our pace and the style of how we want to play. We stopped winning balls in the middle third.”
Each time Montrose would win a ball in the midfield, a long pass quickly followed to an attacker. DHS couldn’t possess the ball as it is accustomed, and some inexperience showed on the part of the Demons.
Montrose scored on a corner kick to make it 3-2, and 10 minutes later a Durango turnover in the midfield led to another Indians goal.
DHS controlled play better in extra time but couldn’t muster a game-winning goal.
Complete game statistics were not available. Parker said Max Wilson scored a goal along with Beattie.
DHS will try to get back on track after Wednesday’s draw and a loss last Saturday at Grand Junction at 2 p.m. Saturday with another tough league game against Fruita Monument, this time at home. The Demons own a 2-1 overtime win against the Wildcats already this season.
“We’re trying to grow and gain experience each time we play,” Parker said. “Right now we’re getting on the bus feeling like we lost the game instead of a draw.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
