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DHS boys soccer begins state at home

A technical DHS boys soccer side ready to attack its postseason opener

Ready for their first home game since 2011, the Durango Demons are poised for a playoff push.

The Durango High School boys soccer team received a No. 9 seed in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A Boys Soccer State Championships on Selection Sunday. DHS (12-2-1) will face No. 24 Vista Ridge (11-4) of Colorado Springs at 4 p.m. Wednesday on the Demons’ home pitch at the Riverview Sports Complex.

“I think we have a chance to really make a statement for the Western Slope and do well this year in the playoffs,” said DHS senior captain and defender Logan Graham, son of Scott and Susan Graham. “Any team that makes the playoffs is a good team, so we have to come out here, play how we know we can play and put our best foot forward.”

DHS has scored goals at a torrid pace this season, having outscored its opponents 58-15 in 15 games. That is good for an average of 3.8 goals per game.

The Demons have been led by freshman phenom Elijah Fenton, who scored 16 times and assisted on seven goals in the regular season. Senior captain Tony Williams, a DHS attacking midfielder, had 10 goals and 13 assists, while junior forward Nick Jernigan finished the regular season with eight goals and four assists.

In all, 15 Demons scored a goal during the regular season.

It all starts from the back, though, as the Demons focus on possessing the ball from the goalkeeper, Lars Schwaebe, forward.

“It is sort of elevating your game more and a matter of keeping the ball, keeping possession and playing soccer, not so much kick-and-run like a lot of other teams have going,” said Schwaebe, son of Charles Schwaebe and Bitten Skertvedt. “We’ve worked on that primarily all season, and it’s worked well for us.”

Schwaebe, who is 10-2-1 in goal this year, and the defenders in front of him have played at an all-league level all season, especially considering the Demons run a 3-2-3-2 formation with just three defenders on the back line.

“Our mentality is to build from the back, work up and have everyone involved in the attack,” Graham said. “Then, on the other side, we have the forwards and midfielders involved in defense. It creates a coherent team feel in all aspects of the game.”

Vista Ridge played in the 4A Pikes Peak League along with No. 1 Air Academy (15-0) and No. 3 Cheyenne Mountain (12-3). DHS head coach Dalon Parker said the Wolves don’t present anything the Demons haven’t already seen this season, especially after their first six games on the Front Range playing teams such as Air Academy.

After earning their first home playoff game since 2011, Parker is excited not to have to travel to the Front Range to open the state tournament.

“We have that on our side, not having to travel seven hours to play a game,” Parker said. “That’s a big plus. I’ve looked at their schedule, and they’re not used to traveling that far. They’ve traveled only like 30 minutes to an hour for games all year.”

Vista Ridge has averaged three goals per game, with 2.1 of those coming in the second half of games. Sophomore Joel Walker leads the Wolves with 15 goals this season on 60 shots. Robert Beamish, a senior, is the team’s leading assist man with six.

Vista Ridge junior goalkeeper Jordan Carder has allowed an average of 1.6 goals per game this season.

“I think, for 15 to 20 minutes, it will be a pretty interesting game with guys figuring each other out,” Parker said. “We have to find their weaknesses from there.”

The Demons had a week off before the selection show Sunday, and they feel refocused and rested for a postseason run. After only playing four games at home all season and winning all four, Graham is excited to get one more.

“It’s one of the first home games we’ve had in awhile in the playoffs for Durango,” he said. “We hope people come out and support so we can show what we’ve been working on all season to the local crowd in Durango.

“We’ve got a real chance. We’re all excited, healthy and playing the best soccer we’ve played all year.”

jlivingston@ durangoherald.com

No. 24 Vista Ridge Wolves (11-4) at No. 9 Durango Demons (12-2-1)

Who: No. 24 Vista Ridge Wolves at No. 9 Durango Demons.

What: Round 1 of the CHSAA Class 4A Boys Soccer State Championships.

When: 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Where: Riverview Sports Complex.

No. 9 Durango High School

Captains: Logan Graham, senior defender; Dylan McClain, senior midfielder; Tony Williams, senior midfielder.

Colors: red and white.

Enrollment: 1,075.

Head Coach: Dalon Parker, second season.

League: Southwestern.

Mascot: Demons.

Players: Adian Aggeler, Vance Bulen, Nate Curmano, Elijah Fenton, Trey Furnas, Logan Graham, Conner Henry, Nick Jernigan, Cole Johnson, Jacob Kaplon, Austin Kelly, Salior Longfellow, Blake McClain, Dylan McClain, Chris Petty, Liefdon Pratchett, Roberto Razo, Evan Schertz, Lars Schwaebe, Steven Sigilito, Luke Stetler, Mason Stetler, Austin Urban, Jared Webster and Tony Williams.

No. 24 Vista Ridge High School

Captains: Robert Beamish, senior defender, midfielder; and Steven Shepherd, junior midfielder.

Colors: black, columbia blue.

Enrollment: 1,239.

Head Coach: Steve Dimit, fourth season.

League: Pikes Peak.

Mascot: Wolves.

Players: Christian Alvarado, Sebastian Bonilla, Robert Beamish, Braeden Bowers, Aidan Brown, Tristan Brown, Jordan Carder, Aaron Espinosa, Raymond Gahagan, Manuel Garcia, Yosiel Gonzalez, Gabe Hernandez, Asfan Khan, Paul Kordic, Jordan Lindsay, Roman Pena, Shawn Robinson, Joseph Sandoval, Steven Shepherd, Jamian Solis and Joel Walker.

Durango Herald



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