Hard work pays off for team

     By Kirk Kern
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      Every Sunday, members of the Durango High School boys' soccer team congregate at the school's soccer field to do lawn work.
      They spend hours mowing the grass, reseeding, watering, chalking the lines and doing general maintenance.
      The hard work paid off for team members in an unusual way recently when Major League Soccer powerhouse D.C. United used the fields for practice during the Football Confederation's Champion's Cup.
      "It was exciting for us to have D.C. United practice on our fields," said senior forward Fred Aboulhosn. "It made all the hard work we put into grooming the fields worthwhile."
      United was in town two weeks ago to participate in the Champion's Cup, which determined the region's entry in the FIFA World Club Championship scheduled for January in Brazil. United was scheduled to practice at Silver Bowl Park but wasn't satisfied with the conditions. So coach Thomas Rongen called UNLV soccer coach Barry Barto, who in turn called Durango High coach Barry Forget.
      "One of the things we pride ourselves on at D.C. United is we like to get the best of everything for our players," said Rongen, whose team is a two-time MLS champion. "That's why we've been so successful.
      "We didn't find the practice fields up to our satisfaction, so we started looking around for other alternatives. This is probably one of the best high school fields we've ever been on. We're quite happy to be here. They've been great hosts to us."
      And United was great guests.
      Every member of the team signed the sling of Durango High junior Zachary Snobell, who came out to watch the team practice. Snobell isn't a member of the Durango High team, but is a soccer fan.
      "It was cool," he said. "They were all very nice."
      Christy Wojcik, a goalkeeper on the Durango girls' soccer team, not only went to the practices but also attended the games at Sam Boyd Stadium. She said she picked up some pointers from watching United keeper Tom Presthus.
      "I admire the goalie," she said. "He does a great job."
      United, the defending Champions Cup holder, was solid the first night of the tournament, beating Olimpia of Honduras, 1-0. Presthus stopped a penalty shot in extra time to secure the victory.
      United was less than successful in its next two matches, losing 3-1 to Necaxa in the semifinals and tying the Chicago Fire 2-2 in the third-place game.
      Dale Adams, the Trailblazers' leading scorer, visited with high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter and came away with an idea of what it takes to succeed.
      "You basically have to give it all you've got all the time," Adams said. "That's what it takes to be the best."