Durango High School girls soccer and girls lacrosse’s first playoff tests were passed earlier this week, but there will be a significant step up in competition in the second round if the Demons want to advance.
On Tuesday, the Demons girls lacrosse team dominated Pueblo West for a 24-6 victory at home in the first round. On Wednesday, Durango girls soccer team fought off a frisky Frederick team for a 4-2 victory in the first round at home.
The Demons girls lacrosse team is seeded 10th in the 4A state tournament, and Pueblo West was 1-10 entering the first-round contest. Now in the second round, the Demons will go from a 10-loss team to a 10-win team in Air Academy. Durango has the chance to go to the quarterfinals for the first time under head coach Eric Elliot with a win over Air Academy.
Air Academy enters the matchup 10-4 overall after its first-round bye. The Kadets went 2-1 in the 4A South league, were 5-1 at home and 5-3 on the road. Three of Air Academy’s losses were to 5A schools, with the lone 4A loss to Cheyenne Mountain on April 30 to wrap up the regular season. That loss snapped a six-game winning streak.
Durango and Air Academy have three common opponents. They both beat Pueblo West by at least 10 goals. Air Academy beat Rampart twice, 20-4 and 18-8, while Durango lost to Rampart, 9-8. Air Academy beat Palmer Ridge 17-16, while Durango lost 17-8.
The Kadets are led by sophomore Illene Badgett (No. 36), who has 48 goals and 16 assists. Junior Kylen Tucker-Flynn (No. 18) is second on the team with 34 goals and leads the team with 18 assists.
If Durango beats Air Academy, it will take on the winner of No. 2 Golden vs. No. 15 Summit on Monday.
After a thrilling second half with three goals, the Durango girls soccer team will stay at home to host No. 12 Mullen on Saturday in the 4A state playoffs. The No. 5 Demons enter the game 13-2 overall, while Mullen is 9-4-3 overall after it beat No. 21 Standley Lake, 2-0, in the first round on Tuesday. Mullen is 6-0-2 at home and 3-4-1 away.
The Mustangs had a rough start at 1-4, with zero goals in those four losses, but they found their footing in the middle of the season. Mullen hasn’t lost since April 2, and has five consecutive wins after three ties in the middle of the season.
Senior Olivia Luzietti (No. 5) leads the team with nine goals and six assists. Sophomore Lilly Jotte (No. 11) has seven goals and five assists for the Mustangs.
If Durango wins, it would face the winner of No. 4 Lutheran vs. No. 13 Golden in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Last season, the Demons lost to Lutheran in the quarterfinals, 3-0.