The Carson High boys soccer team tuned up for its showdown for first in the Sierra League against South Tahoe with a 4-0 win at North Valleys on Saturday.
Carson (13-1, 10-1) will play at South Tahoe (9-1-1) on Wednesday. "If you can win up there, you can pretty much win anywhere," Carson coach Jason Koop said. "They play well there."
Enrique Mendoza had three assists as the Senators took a 3-0 halftime lead against the Panthers. Micah Laack scored in the first four minutes on an assist from Mendoza and scored again on another assist from Mendoza. John Nuthall scored on Mendoza's third assist to make it 3-0.
Christian Volker scored on an assist from Laack to finish the scoring. Koop said he experimented with the lineup and formations in the second half.
"It was a much better first half than the second half," Koop said. Brandon Briggs saved the only two shots he faced to force the shutout.
SOUTH TAHOE 4, DOUGLAS 1
Douglas couldn't overcome a slow start in which it fell behind 3-0 in the first 15 minutes.
"We came out flat and didn't respond to their pressure," Douglas coach Milko Vasquez said.
But Vasquez was pleased overall with his team's effort, which is plagued by several injuries. "I liked our effort," he said. "Physically we just don't have the bodies."
Kyle Gardner, Kyle Mannschreck, Ray Kaffer and Derik Cantley are all out with injuries and leading scorer Michael Gransbery is playing with a broken toe. "That definitely limited his mobility," Vasquez said.
Andrew Andraski scored the Tigers' goal on an assist from Michael Barnes. Edgar Arceo and Ross Gardner played well defensively and Eddie Vega played well at midfield.
Goalie Jose Alcaraz posted seven saves. Robbie Forrest, Dustin Goldade and Jake O'Farrell also played well.
CARSON JVS 7,
NORTH VALLEYS 1
Victor Arreguin, Moses Ramo-Fernandez, Ian Gunn, Luis Aguilar, Derek Sanchez, Israel Lopez and Pedro Chavez all scored for Carson. Chase Losche had three assists and Aguilar added an assist.
Goalies Chavez and Ryan Lee posted the win. Aldo Del Razo, Sachez, Jorge Guevara and Aguilar played well defensively.
DOUGLAS JVS 4, S
OUTH TAHOE 3
Jeff Crozier scored twice and Cole Cline and David Henie each scored once for Douglas. Goalie Corbin Zumpf posted the win. Fabian Ramos, Ben Wood and Bill Sunderland played well defensively and Nick Hales and Brian Randall played well at midfield.