After cruising to an opening-season win over Sparks and a forfeit win against Wooster, the Carson High girls soccer team was faced with a brutal three-game stretch.
It all started this past Tuesday when the Senators edged Reed, the Northern 4A runner up last year, 2-1 win in Sparks after Erin Stieber's game-winning goal. The second game was Saturday against Reno, Carson's only second Sierra League game of the season.
But the Huskies were no match.
Ali Banister's scored her team-leading fifth goal while Emily Maier scored her first of the season as the Senators shutout Reno, 2-0 at Carson High.
The end of this stretch is now in sight for Carson (4-0 overall, 2-0 league), but the last game should be its toughest. The Senators play undefeated and defending Northern 4A champion Douglas on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in Minden. The Tigers beat Galena 0-0 on Saturday.
"It's tough, tougher, and toughest for us," said Senator assistant coach Mark Bray, who filled in for head coach Mike Popp on Saturday.
Saturday's game against the Huskies was a spirited affair as three yellow cards and a red card were issued to Reno players. None of that seemed to bother the Senators, however.
"I think Reno had some frustration out there and it kind of helped us in our favor," Bray said.
Banister's direct kick goal in the first half and Maier's goal of an assist from Stieber in the second was all the offense Carson needed. Senator goalie Krissy Rose would do the rest.
Rose posted 19 saves in her second shutout of the season. And Rose was especially crucial because for the second-straight game, sweeper Allison Kop couldn't play because of an ankle injury. Two other starters also didn't play. But their replacements, Tiffany Spell, Candice Klopf, and Mary Cunningham, filled in nicely.
"Another stellar performance by Krissy Rose," Bray said. "We played without three starters again and our subs really stepped it up big time today."
With the loss, Reno falls to 2-1-1 overall and 2-1 in Sierra League play.