Allison Kop and Ali Banister both scored two goals on Saturday as Carson cruised to a 7-1 win over Sparks, the Senators largest margin of victory this season.
Carson remains undefeated on the season after delivering Sparks their worst loss in seven years. And although it doesn't seem like it, coach Mike Popp still believes that his team has some things they need to work on.
"We still have a lot of work to do," Popp said. "We still look a little unorganized out there and some of the girls are still getting over being sick and injured."
Sparks scored their only goal of the game midway through the first half when Kristin Vitti, the Railroaders leading scorer, converted on a penalty kick. Carson goalkeeper Krissy Rose, one of the top goalies in Northern Nevada, had to make just six saves the entire game.
The Senators led 3-1 at half-time after tallying 11 shots on goal and then turned even more offensive in their break-out second half. Erin Steiber scored Carson's seventh goal off a Jessica Bray's corner kick to finish the scoring at 7-1. It was the first goal Sparks has given up off a corner kick in two years.
Katherine Callister and Emily Maier also scored goals in the game. In the second half, Carson scored four goals from their 13 shots on goal. Bray, Kop and Bria Dankworth all recorded assists. So obviously Popp isn't concerned with his team creating scoring chances but he did say that they will continue to work on possessing the ball more.
"We're still trying to get the one-and-two touch passing game going but we're getting better," Popp said. "But right now, we're just taking it one game at a time."
On Tuesday, Carson travels to Fallon, which should be another easy game for the Senators. Douglas High beat the Green Wave 7-0 earlier in the week as both the Tigers and the Senators look like two of the top teams in Northern Nevada.
"This could be one of my best teams since I've been here," said Popp, who mentioned that his roster has only five seniors on it. "But the zone playoffs aren't even on our minds right now. We're just going to keep trying to get better."
Junior Varsity
Carson 2, Sparks 0
Chrissy Katzorke and Kristan Hale scored second-half goals to break up a scoreless duel as the J.V. Senators improved their season record to 2-0-2.
Goalkeeper Megan Kronenberg picked up her second shutout of the season.