The Durango High School girls’ lacrosse team headed to New Mexico for a pair of games during the weekend. Both games were close, but DHS ended up splitting its contests, both by 10-9 scores.
On Friday, DHS fell to Sante Fe Prep, 10-9. On Saturday, DHS avenged its first-round playoff loss from last season to Pueblo West, 10-9.
“We had our Pueblo West game circled on our calendar from the second we saw it,” said DHS head coach Eric Elliot. “They took it to us pretty good on their home turf in last year’s opening round of the playoffs and the team was really looking forward to settling the score.”
The coach said DHS came out strong, but went into halftime trailing. In the second half, however, DHS made a defensive change while its goalie Fiona Chandler made it tough on the Cyclones.
“Fiona had a uncharacteristically rough first half, but in the second half she was an absolute wall in the goal and threw some beautiful deep clears to get the attack moving quickly,” Elliot said.
He also said Morgan Avila of Pueblo West had Durango’s number in the first half, so he had defensive captain Jaden Rambo focus on her after the break.
“Rambo shut her down in the second half,” Elliot said.
On offense, Emmylou Willis scored four goals to lead the Demons. Annabel Carithers scored three goals, Sophia Naffsinger scored twice while Willa Anderson scored her first high school goal. Elliot said Anderson swatted the goalie’s clear right back at her, over her shoulder and into the back of the net.
Victoria Barletta, Carithers, Silvie Bosmans, Naffsinger, Lucy Halverstadt and Jordan Meininger all assisted a goal.
“We really had some good ball movement and unselfish play in the game, having six of 10 goals being assisted,” Elliot said.
Rambo, Barletta, and Carithers each caused two turnovers. Kayana Newcomer-Bell led the team with eight ground balls while Meininger and Carithers each had six.
Chandler made 13 saves on 22 shots.
The coach also said Barletta, “put on a draw clinic having 17 attempts leading to four controls for her and five for Annabel and four for Silvie.”
Against Santa Fe Prep, Durango scored in the first minute and took an early 3-0 lead. Santa Fe came back and tied it, then the teams traded goals before DHS eventually went into halftime trailing by two.
DHS came out strong again to open the second half and tied the game. The Griffins, however, took the lead with under five minutes to go and Durango was unable to capitalize on a few late chances.
Willis and Barletta both scored two goals in the game while Bosmans, Carithers, Taylor Babcock, Naffsinger and Halverstadt each scored once. It was also Halverstadt’s first high school goal.
Meininger assisted two goals. Newcomer-Bell led the team with seven ground balls. Chandler made 11 saves on 21 shots
DHS also caused 15 turnovers, with Halverstadt and Carithers each recording three.
DHS, now 2-3 overall, will next start its 4A Mountain West league season, playing at Grand Junction (2-2) on Friday and at Fruita Monument (3-1) on Saturday.
“We are really in a good spot carrying some momentum,” Elliot said.
The Durango High School boys’ lacrosse team was also on the road for a pair of games over the weekend, but came up short in both.
DHS, now 0-4 overall, 0-3 4A Mountain West, fell 12-6 to Fruita Monument (3-2, 3-0) on Friday and then 15-4 to Grand Junction (2-3, 2-1) on Saturday.
Against Fruita, Owen Muraro and Cruz Martinez both scored twice to lead Durango while Jackson Nash and Logan Gurule also found the back of the net.
Owen Carozza had 10 ground balls and six takeaways.
Against Grand Junction, Nash, Martinez, Henry Huff and Jameson Connolly scored for the Demons. Connolly and Jeffery Munger assisted goals.
Nash also had a team-high 10 ground balls while Carozza had nine and Wade Mitchell seven.
Durango will next host Montrose (0-2, 0-1) at noon Saturday.
