Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Carson's Ann Sinnott fights for the ball with Kristina Dantin, of Douglas, during Tuesday night's game at CHS.
Speed kills. Just ask the Douglas Tigers.
Carson forward Kayla Sanchez, not once, but twice outran Douglas defenders to score two goals and lead the Senators to a 2-0 win in a Sierra League girls soccer match Tuesday night.
Carson played the match without head coach Randy Roser, who was suspended for one game for criticizing officials after the Carson-Reno game last weekend. Assistant coach Greg Davis and varsity boys coach Jason Koop ran the team in Roser's absence.
"It was a team effort," Davis said. "The girls played it for their coach."
"It was different," Sanchez said when asked about playing without Roser on the sidelines, "It was hard to not have him be here."
Carson dominated much of the game, consistently getting better scoring opportunities. The Senators outshot Douglas 22-12, and Douglas had just four total shots in the second half. Three of those shots were after Carson fouls.
The Senators had three good looks at the goal in the first nine minutes, as Brandi Vega, Sanchez and Amanda Osborne all misfired. That early onslaught set the tone, however.
Sanchez, a star for Carson's track team, used her blazing speed to split two Douglas defenders to reach a through ball by Vega. Sanchez's shot hit the left upright and got by Jamie Greer for a goal at the 13-minute mark.
"I was saying please go in, please go in," Sanchez said when she saw her shot hit the upright. "I was so relieved when it did."
Ann Sinnott also hit the upright approximately two minutes later, but her shot stayed out. Douglas' Marissa Bertelone-Smith did a good job of kicking the ball away.
Morgan LeFever, the only Douglas player with enough speed to make things difficult for the Senators got off shots in the 24th and 27th minute, respectively, but were both wide of the mark.
The Senators missed twice from point-blank range in the 35th minute, as Greer, who had 10 saves, did a nice job.
Carson continued to put the pressure on Greer and the Tigers in the first 26 minutes of the second half, as Rebecca Kane misfired three times and Sanchez missed wide left.
The Senators had severe problems with spacing the entire game, as too many players were in the middle of the field.
In the 72nd minute, Sanchez showed off her blazing speed again when she caught up to Sinnott's through ball. Greer came out to try and stop here. Sanchez pushed the ball past her, and then found the back of the net to make it 2-0.
"When we have that opening we're going to take it," Davis said. "If not, we're going to build it from the back and let it come naturally."
"The team was giving me a through ball, and sometimes it's easier to run past them (defenders)," Sanchez said.
Douglas coach Lorraine Fitzhugh defended Greer's decision to come out.
"It's a tough decision to come out and try to cut down the angle," she said. "A savvy player is going to put it around you. She read it as best as she could."
LeFever almost broke the shutout in the 75th minute. Carson goalie Jen Johnson came out too far, and the shot caromed off her leg. It was, without question, the Tigers' best threat of the night.
"It was a well-fought game," Fitzhugh said. "I'm not disappointed. I'm happy with our progress. The girls stepped up a level of intensity they haven't seen."
Davis praised the play of midfielders Kristin Rush, Kane and Osborne. Michelle Fleming also played well on the back line.
JV: CARSON 7, DOUGLAS 1
Emily Field scored a hat trick and Megan Jackson added two goals and an assist in the Senators' easy win.
Miriah Tompkins added a goal and an assist, and Krissy Kane contributed two assists. Kayla Couch and Katie McFarren were credited with an assist apiece.
Goalie Danica Sheldon and fullbacks Ashley Turner, Maria Garcia and Julianne King were praised for their defensive work.