Sometimes a heavy dollop of elbow grease and a dash of luck cooks up something golden.
A long punt from goalkeeper Hannah Robertson hopped deep into the Montrose end, and Steffie Wilson got to it, shouldered off a defender and fired inside the left post for a golden goal in the second overtime, giving the Durango High School girls soccer team a 2-1 win over the Indians on Saturday at Riverview Sports Complex. The dramatic victory saddled first-place Montrose with its first Southwestern League loss of the season. And it capped a big weekend for the Demons (7-3-1, 4-2-1 SWL) with a signature victory as they make a push for yet another Class 4A postseason appearance.
These are the kinds of games that make or break your season, DHS head coach Dalon Parker said. You know, the way the game played out, we couldve lost, and our girls wouldve been down. We couldve won, and the girls couldve made our season and went on a run to the playoffs. Emotions are high with us. Everybodys happy.
Wilson said she was elated to bury the winner after having a handful of opportunities go awry earlier in the game. And the junior forward added that this victory could prove to be a huge shot in the arm for DHS through the seasons final four games and perhaps into the postseason.
I think its going to be huge in our standings, but I think its going to be more important in our mentality because it really builds us as a team, and it gives us that positive mental outlook to the game that we really, really needed, said a grinning Wilson, still aglow from her game-winning goal.
The Demons jumped in front first, tallying in the 17th minute. Lauren Milliets cross found sister Katie Milliet streaking toward the far post, and the freshman didnt miss from point-blank range, pushing the ball inside the post past Montrose goalkeeper Grace Halbach for a 1-0 lead.
After a few more Demons opportunities went awry later in the first half, the Indians (8-3-0, 6-1-0 SWL) struck early in the second. Holly Brooks was the recipient of a nice feed from about 20 yards out, and her salvo found its way under the crossbar to equalize in the 46th minute.
Durango was able to continue its solid play from Fridays win over Grand Junction Central against a much tougher challenge Saturday, and the Demons did it sans five regulars: Laken Bennion, Bella Bernazzani, Morgan Harris, Stephanie Ogier and Rachel Rossi.
Weve had a lot of injury, a lot of sickness, and Im just so proud of our entire team for just pulling through and really pulling out the win, said Wilson, daughter of Kathy and Steve Wilson.
Wilson and Lauren Milliet formed a nice 1-2 punch, putting pressure on the Montrose defense and nearly connecting on a few chances with a combination of speed and finesse.
What we like about (Wilson) is she adds speed, and then Lauren adds that finesse and that ability to put the ball wherever she can, Parker said. The midfield as a whole held its own, and Berkeley Davis narrowly missed on a couple of scoring chances. Aside from the lone goal, the DHS defense stood up well for the second consecutive day, with Robertson cleaning up all the loose change that slipped through. But it was the unity that seemed to please Parker more than anything. Spring break gave DHS time to come together and work out any communication issues, and the Demons are hoping to ride that communication and this current wave of momentum into a playoff berth.
Everybody had their spurts where they contributed to the game, and that was really good to see, Parker said.
rowens@durangoherald.com
