With the season winding down, it must be tempting for the Carson girls soccer team to look ahead to the Northern Nevada 4-A Zone playoffs.
But in a game that it easily could have looked past, the Senators had their minds on the task at hand and routed Hug 8-0 Tuesday at home. Carson improved to 12-1, continuing its march to the Sierra League title, which it has virtually wrapped up.
Carson would like nothing more than to equal its feat of winning the zone title from two years ago.
"We are excited about it," said Emily Maier about the playoffs. "We hope to take zone again this year."
The Senators, though, also know they still need to finish the season strong.
"I really don't like to look ahead more than the next game," Carson Coach Mike Popp said.
Popp was pleased with his team's focus against Hug. "What I was really pleased with is the way we moved the ball around," Popp said. "They let the ball do the work."
Maier was the beneficiary of Carson's strong ball movement when she scored the Senators' final two goals.
"My team's really good about finding the forwards," Maier said. "I don't think we had any cheap goals today. They were pretty solid."
After Erika Landis and Ali Banister scored in the first 10 minutes of the game, Maier drew a penalty in the goal box when she was pushed from behind on a header attempt off a pass from Nikki Schardin. Banister converted the penalty kick to make it 3-0.
Alison Williamson sent a shot just over the outstretched hands of the Hug goalie and under the crossbar to give Carson a 4-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, Williamson made a beautiful crossing pass on an unselfish play, setting up Banister for a goal. Landis followed by scoring on a rebound off of Maier's shot.
Maier scored on a breakaway and then beat a Hug defender for a goal to finish the scoring, sending a shot from the right side that bounced off the post and into the net. The play was set up by a pass sent forward from Banister.
Kirsten Rose made three outstanding saves in the second half to preserve the shutout. She made a nice save on a high arching shot and later made two excellent saves off of a corner kick.
Others taking shots for Carson included Erin Stieber, Allison Kop, Kathryn Callister, Haley Zook and Sarah Field.
Game Notes: Hug Coach Patty Stoddard is stepping down at the end of the year and Popp said he's admired the job that Stoddard has done.
JUNIOR VARSITY
CARSON 5, HUG 0
Chrissy Katzorke scored two goals and Krista Hale, Paige Thayer and Candice Klopf all scored for Carson, which improved to 10-0-3 in the junior varsity game. Mary Cunningham and Jennelee Kane led the defense and Megan Kronenberg posted her 10th shutout at goalie.