BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Brandon Briggs shoot during the second half against Wooster in Carson City on Wednesday. The Senators beat the Colts 3-0.
What a difference five days makes.
After a lethargic, emotionless performance against South Tahoe in a 4-0 loss on Saturday, the Carson High boys soccer team looked energized in a 3-0 win over Wooster in a Sierra League boys match Wednesday night.
Carson took over sole possession of second place with a 5-1 record. The Senators visit Reno (4-2) in a 3 p.m. match on Saturday.
"We had more energy and emotion than we did on Saturday," Carson coach Jason Koop said. "Maybe that was a wake-up call for us. I have nothing but high praise for our energy tonight.
"They are a good team, not one to be taken lightly. The speed we had was a factor. We are in a little bit better shape and over the course of a game that starts to show."
Carson outshot Wooster 17-6, and five of those shots by the Colts came in the second half.
Carson's Edgar Gomez put a 10-yarder over the crossbar in the 18th minute, and neither team had a quality opportunity until the 33rd minute when Jose Garcia pounded one toward the goal, only to see Sam Rojas kick it away.
Carson broke the scoreless tie two minutes later when Logan Ahl fired a shot at the Wooster goalie, who had the ball pop out of his grasp. Jason Mather rammed it into the back of the net.
"That was good effort by Mather," Koop said. "I talked about that at halftime. That's where you need to be (for a rebound)."
Carson's offense was much more efficient in the second half, putting plenty of pressure on Wooster. Edgar Gomez missed wide left and then put another over the crossbar in the first 22 minutes.
Gomez finally found the back of the net off an Enrique Mendoza assist in the 65th minute to make it 2-0. The Senators closed out the scoring 10 minutes later when Ramay Nunez deposited a shot in the right corner for a 3-0 lead with five minutes left in the match.
"Offensively we had more time to do things," Koop said. "Once we settled down, we were able to move the ball. Up top we handled the ball and played well."
Koop praised his fullbacks - Rojas, Kevin Brush, John Nuthall and Mats Boehnke. Goalie Bud Kop only had to make four saves.
CARSON JV BLANKS COLTS
Second-half goals by Martin Azzam and Christian Limon propelled the Carson JV soccer squad to a 2-0 win over Wooster.
The game was scoreless at the half.
J.P. McFarren and Nick Marsh assisted on the goals.
Ryan Lee and Chase Losche each played a half at goalkeeper. Alex Kaskie, Jared Baxter, Colter Thomas and John Medina played well defensively for the Senators, who improved to 5-1 in Sierra League play.