Durango defeats Cortez in girls soccer action

Durango defeats Cortez in girls soccer action

April 26, 2001

STAFF REPORT

Durango clinched the Southwestern League title for the fourth time Tuesday afternoon, April 24, with an 8-1 win over Montezuma-Cortez High School in girls soccer action at Norman Johnson Memorial Field.

The Demons were led by Kristin McGrath who scored three goals on the day. Kammie and Tiffany Williams each put two balls in the into the net.

Cortez wrapped up an eight-game home stretch. They will travel to Montrose for a contest beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, April 27, and then they will move on to tangle with Fruita-Monument at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, to end the regular season.

The Panthers, going into the Durango game, were coming off two straight wins. They stopped Pagosa Springs 3-0 last Saturday, April 21, and crushed a hapless Ignacio bunch 12-1 on April 17 in non-conference games played at home.

"We played so much better against Pagosa than we did against Ignacio (although the score doesn’t reflect that)," MCHS first-year head coach Monica Plewe remarked. "I was very pleased with the way we played that game."

Plewe was especially pleased with the two header goals. Elise Stephens made the first one from a nice pass from Jennifer Siracusen. Emilie Lanier made the second one off a corner kick from Vanessa Benally. She said she also was happy with the long goal made by Felice Lucero.

The Panthers led 1-0 in the first half and then scored two in the second.

Cortez shot the ball almost at will against the Pirates. MCHS took 38 shots.

Plewe said she also was pleased with the defense, holding Pagosa to only eight shots on goal. Andrea Jensen and Nikki Fuchs split time in the goalie crease with Jensen stopping balls in the first half and Fuchs in the second.

The Panthers completely and totally dominated play against Ignacio. Cortez jumped out to a 10-1 lead at the half. Plewe put restrictions on her team in the second half.

To say a hat trick (three goals) is good, Merina Lippis did one better. Nicole Stephens, Carolyn Britton, and Fuchs made two goals each. Elise Stephens and Chrissy Baisell made one apiece.

Plewe did say the team moved the ball well on offense and kept the ball in the attacking half of the field for most of the game.

Jensen spent the whole game at the goal. She made eight saves.