GRAND JUNCTION – There is no substitute for game experience, even for the veteran-rich Glenwood Springs girls soccer team.

Coach Steve White said rust was the Demons’ main problem in Thursday’s 7-0 nonleague loss to Class 5A Grand Junction at Canyon View Park.

“It looks like we were a lot rusty based on the score, but it was a closer game than the score indicates,” White said.

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In fact, Class 4A Glenwood had some nice looking runs early in the first half. But, the passes failed to connect for the Demons, who were playing there first game of the 2003 season.

“We played well, but there were some missed opportunities because it was the first game of the season,” White said.

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Before Tiger Lauren Sell scored the game’s first goal – one of two she would have – in the 23rd minute, the Demons were inches from taking the lead.

Cassie Carlson’s long grounder from outside the box was narrowly stopped by Grand Junction goalie Mallery Rodriquez in the 14th minute.

Five minutes later, forward Amanda Whiting barely missed poking a shot inside the near post.

Sell’s goal came on a corner kick pass from Autumn Espe inside the penalty area, after Demon keeper Keegan Nadon shooed Tiger Shannon Simpson’s initial drive out of bounds.

Espe scored her first of two goals on a goal kick after a Demon foul in the 30th minute for a 2-0 lead.

Two minutes before halftime, Grand Junction’s Sarah Noffsinger changed the complexion of the game when her high floater slid just below the crossbar.

“That third goal really deflated us,” said White.

Nadon had a fine game in goal, the junior had nine saves, seven in the second half before exiting after Grand Junction’s Mallery Madrid scored the Tigers’ fifth goal in the 66th minute.

Megan Roland had goal No. 4 in the 64th minute. Espe and Sell scored their second goals late in the second half.

The Demons are off until March 20 when they face nonleague opponent Roaring Fork for its home opener at Stubler Memorial Field.