For the first time since 2021, the ninth-seeded Durango boys soccer team punched its ticket to the 4A state quarterfinals with a 3-1 win at No. 8 Montbello on Wednesday afternoon.
The Demons scored twice in the first 10 minutes to stun the previously undefeated Warriors. Durango extended its unbeaten streak to 10 games.
“I’m a little emotional because of the connections I have with it for us to get to this point, it's huge,” Durango head coach Sean Ackerman said. “I just couldn’t be happier for the guys. I'm proud of them. They deserved it because of their heart and desire.”
Durango improved to 12-2-3 overall while Montbello finished its season at 10-1-6 overall.
Ackerman said the Demons came out flying to start the game. Durango worked on pressing all week because Ackerman and his squad knew Montbello liked to play out of the back from the defense. Ackerman complimented his press and said it allowed the Demons to win the ball high up the field.
Durango scored in the fourth minute to go up 1-0. Senior defender Duncan Madrigal hit a ball from about 35 yards out toward the opposite post where senior defender Flint Gervais was waiting. Gervais outjumped four or five other players to get his head on the ball and head it into the top right corner.
A few minutes later, Durango junior defender Wes Recla played a ball from the right side toward junior forward Dylan Burns at the top of the 18-yard box. Burns took a quick shot that was deflected but found the back of the net for a 2-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game.
Ackerman said the Demons pressed so hard and well in the first 15 minutes of the game that Montbello couldn’t get the ball over half field. But Durango then got tired and made an error outside its own 18-yard box and turned the ball over. Montbello took advantage and scored to make it 2-1 with about seven minutes left in the first half.
The Demons responded in the second half. Madrigal played in another ball from about 35 yards out. This time, he found senior midfielder Mavrick Rodriguez, who finished with a header in the top right corner for a 3-1 lead in the middle of the second half.
Ackerman named Madrigal the man of the match after his two assists. He said Madrigal has been a rock on defense all season with his play and leadership.
Durango will next play at No. 1 Mullen on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Mustangs finished the regular season 11-2-2 overall and 4-2-1 in the 5A/4A Centennial. Mullen beat No. 32 Falcon 4-0 in the first round and No. 16 Golden 1-0 in the second round.
“I have full belief in my team,” Ackerman said. “They've proven and shown they can overcome any opponent. Looking at Mullen, it hasn’t had the strongest results in the first two rounds and I think everyone understands that. We're all going to celebrate this a little bit, but we're all going to take that mentality that we can go out there and beat any team in this state right now.”
bkelly@durangoherald.com
