The Durango High School girls lacrosse team headed down to New Mexico on Friday and scored a 14-7 win over Santa Fe Prep.
“All in all it was a solid team effort, and I couldn’t be prouder of how the girls responded after our loss to Aspen,” said DHS head coach Eric Elliott. “They came out with something to prove to themselves, and they did it in style.”
The teams traded goals for the first 12 minutes, but then Durango found itself trailing by two. The coach, however, said that’s when Victoria Barletta started heating up. Barletta ended up scoring seven goals in the game. Annabel Carithers also had some hot shots and finished with six goals. Emmylou Willis scored the team’s other goal, and Chloe Bowen had an assist.
“We worked hard all week on draw control, and it really paid off,” Elliott said. “Vicki, Annabel and Sophia Kothe really dominated in draw control.”
The team’s defense also picked it up to keep the Demons in front.
“Our defense stepped up big and won the ground-ball war,” Elliott said. “Lexi (Wold), Eliciana (Martinez), Alisen (Ballou), Jaden (Rambo) and Nellie (Miller) really clamped down. Harvest (Dobbins) was huge in goal with 10 saves.”
The two teams will play again Saturday.
The Durango boys lacrosse team was also in action Friday in Grand Junction, but got off to a slow start and eventually fell to Fruita Monument 17-8.
The Wildcats led 6-0 after the first quarter and 10-0 at halftime.
The Demons won the second half, 8-7, but the early deficit was too much to overcome.
“We had a good second half but started slow again,” said DHS head coach Luke Miller.
Henry Howe and Harris Halverstadt both scored two goals in the game. Howe also assisted two goals, and Halverstadt assisted one and Ilias Stritikus assisted one.
Sam Carozza, Logan Gurule, JT Munger and Zak Wentworth also scored for DHS.
Tony Farber led Fruita with seven goals.
DHS goalie Bode Ensign made 19 saves.
Durango will play another game in Grand Junction Saturday against GJHS.