Two years ago, the Carson boys soccer team won the state title after placing fourth in Northern Nevada during the regular season.
If it's de ja vu all over again for the Senators this season, another run at the state title could be possible. Carson could be heading to another fourth place finish heading into the Northern Nevada 4A playoffs this year.
Carson began its drive for the zone playoffs with a 4-2 win over Hug Wednesday at home, improving to 7-4-2.
"When you get to zone, it's a whole different season," Carson Coach Bruce Bergantz said.
Against Hug, Carson built a 3-0 lead before Hug closed to within 3-2 during a five-minute span in the second half. David Dwyer went on to score on a header to put the game away for Carson.
"The effort was fine," Bergantz said. "We were a little sloppy. We had numerous breakaways.
"Most of these kids are young and inexperienced. If they just settle down and play soccer, they'll be fine."
The effort was encouraging after a 7-1 loss to Reno. "We kind of got down a little bit in the Reno game," said Aaron Satterwhite, who scored to give Carson a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Satterwhite said the goal is to "just play as a team before zone comes along."
If Carson had taken advantage of its breakaways, the game against Hug wouldn't have been as close.
"We always seem to have a problem finishing with Hug," Satterwhite said. "I'm guessing if we get our finishing down, we'll do pretty well in zone."
On his goal, Satterwhite was the beneficiary of an outstanding play by John Shorrock, who beat Hug's goalie and centered the from the right side to Satterwhite, who put the ball into the open net.
"It was a very good pass," Satterwhite said. " I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
A.J. Bergantz scored on a breakaway to give Carson a 3-0 lead in the second half. Hug came back to score off of a free kick when it won the battle for the ball in front of the goal and then scored on a pinpoint shot in front of the goal to cut Carson's lead to 3-2.
But Carson restored order when Dwyer sent his header into the right corner of the net. Goalie Sean Carter also had seven saves for the Senators.
JUNIOR VARSITY
CARSON 1, HUG 1
Dustin Henderson scored on a penalty kick in the second half to salvage a tie for the Carson junior varsity boys soccer team.
Carson had its chances to win, including on a shot by Tim Kane in which he just missed wide. Jeremy Benamati also played well offensively for Carson.