DHS Girls Soccer Digs In For Home Stretch

The DHS girls soccer team heads into league play with a new coach and elevated goals. You’re watching the Local News Network, brought to you by Fort Lewis College Center for Innovation and Crystal Mart. I’m Connor Shreve. First-year head coach Zac Keeler enters his 20th year coaching soccer. Demons fans may recognize the new girls coach. He was an assistant coach for the boys team last season.

I like to have possession. I like to try to build players that can play in any position on the field. I don’t want them to feel like they have to be a defender just because that’s where they’ve played the past three or four years. A lot of players that I’ve coached in the past that have gone to colleges, they ended up playing different positions from what I had put them at. So my philosophy is to get the kids playing as much as possible.

To execute that vision, Keeler needs leaders. He sees many players emerging in that role.

Yeah, I see a lot of potential in our seniors and also with Ryne Neiman as a goalkeeper, junior goalkeeper, that’s played on varsity for the past three years. We should have a strong group of girls that are on the field, as well as sitting on the bench ready to step up that are leadership material.

But that doesn’t tell the complete story of his 2025 team. Keeler inherited a balanced roster.

Yeah, we’ve got a huge freshman class and sophomore class and a very strong junior and senior class. So it’s going to be a very good season.

The Demons haven’t worked lightly into competition. They started with two difficult games against Cherry Creek and Rampart. Keeler hopes that sets the bar for his lofty goals.

Yeah, playoffs are definitely a major goal for me, and then the league. The team hasn’t had success at winning the league on a consistent basis. So I’d like to change that and win the league season after season. And then also, try to do what they did a few years ago and make it into the semifinals.

The team will host Montrose, Crested Butte, and Grand Junction in its home stand during the final month of the regular season. You can find more information about this and other stories at durangolocal.news. Thanks for watching this edition of the Local News Network. I’m Connor Shreve.