Carson boys soccer beats Damonte Ranch

The Carson High boys soccer team took care of business and received some much needed help in the process in a 1-0 win over Damonte Ranch on Wednesday at CHS.

Carson improved to 7-1-2 in the Sierra League and its hopes for a league title were given new life when South Tahoe played to a 0-0 tie against Wooster.

South Tahoe is 8-0-2 in league play. Douglas is in third at 7-2-1. South Tahoe was also tied earlier in the season by Damonte Ranch.

If the Senators can win out in league play - which would have to include a win at home against South Tahoe - they would receive the Sierra League's No. 1 seed into the Northern 4A playoffs.

"That's big for us," said Carson coach Jason Koop about South Tahoe's tie against Wooster. "We have to win out. It's within our reach. I guess that's all you can ask for."

Ramay Nunes scored on an assist from Enrique Mendoza in the first half for the game's only goal. The game was similar to the first meeting in which Carson also won 1-0 at Damonte Ranch.

"It was very reminescent of the first meeting in as far as they dropped a lot of guys back on defense," Koop said. "They've got a pretty good goalie that made some good saves."

Koop said his team had its chances, including Royal Good, who had two excellent chances from the right side, Micah Laack, who was stopped on a breakway by Damonte's goalie and Edgar Gomez, who also had his share of chances. "If we put everything away it's not as close as the score indicates," Koop said.

But Koop said he'll take the 1-0 win. "I'm happy with that," he said. "We controlled the game for the most part."

Koop said that Nunes, Good and Mendoza in the midfield "seemed that they could do what they wanted. We just couldn't finish."

Drew Heller, John Nuthall, Kevin Brush and Sam Rojas all played well defensively for Carson and goalie Bud Kop posted the shutout.