MINDEN - All season long, Douglas boys soccer coach Phil Sheridan hasn't about worried other team's records, playoff seedings, or even his own teams record for that matter. After jumping out to a 6-0-3 to start the season, Sheridan had to be reminded that his team was undefeated.
"I don't even care about that stuff," Sheridan once said.
What he does care about is how his team plays, no matter who the opponent may be. On Saturday, the Tigers beat the first-place South Tahoe Vikings 3-2 and for the first time all season, it was evident that Sheridan cared. When the game ended, Sheridan flung both arms in the air and displayed a bit of emotion that hasn't been seen all season.
"Tahoe took it to us pretty good up there," said Sheridan about his team's 3-0 loss to the Vikings earlier this season. "We've lost some close games this season but I'm real happy about the way we're playing right now."
Douglas (8-3-3) remains in third place and just one point of Carson (8-4-2), who beat Wooster 10-0 on Saturday. On Monday, the Tigers travel to Carson for a game against the Senators, which should decide the Sierra League's No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in next month's 4A playoffs.
"It doesn't really matter about the seeds because we're both going to have away games in the first round," Sheridan said.
Against South Tahoe, Blake Hennessy-York put the Tigers up 1-0 in the 15th minute off an assist from Robby Honer. Then in the 25th minute, South Tahoe mid-fielder Dave Brown tied it at 1-1 after scoring on a pass from Gustavo Romero.
"I thought they outplayed us for the most part in the first half," Sheridan said.
Then in the second half, Gieorag Andrews made a series of step over moves on the right sideline before crossing a ball into the Viking penalty box, which Derek Dimitri volleyed into the back of the net for a 2-1 Douglas lead.
Less than five minutes later, Bryant Bradley's throw in squirted through a maze of players situated in the Vikings penalty box. But on the other end was Brian DeMarta, who was left unmarked and scored on a one-time shot to give Douglas a 3-1 lead.
But in the 55th minute, Chris McKean scored on a loose ball inside the Douglas penalty box after a Romero throw in that finished the scoring at 3-2. The Vikings threatened several times after McKean's goal but couldn't find a way to beat goalie Nate Gardner, who finished the game with seven saves.
"We were missing our top two goal scorers today," South Tahoe coach Joe Winters said. "But it doesn't matter, if you give up three goals, you don't deserve to win the game."
Junior Varsity
Douglas 2, South Tahoe 0
Chris Honer and Sam Forrester each scored first-half goals as the Douglas junior varsity boys soccer team beat South Tahoe 2-0 on Saturday in Minden. Sean Rahe assisted on Honer's goal in the 15th minute.
Douglas now improves to 9-3. With their win over the Vikings, the Tigers recorded their seventh shutout victory of the season. Douglas goalie Chase Zumpft had six saves to lead the Tiger defense. Also turning in a good defensive effort was Jesse Parra and Yuri Weigel. Trent Hennessy-York, Nic Beres, and Jeremy Carter dominated the mid-field for the Tigers. Ryan Young also came off the bench to play well for Douglas. The Tigers play at Carson on Monday.