Carson girls win two out of three;
Douglas girls win tourney
BY MIKE HOUSER
Appeal Sports Writer
RENO " The Carson Senators boys soccer team shook off a 1-0 loss to the Manogue Miners on Friday and defeated North Valleys, Fernley and Incline by a combined score of 10-1 to meet the Miners in the championship game of the Galena Tournament on Saturday.
Carson took advantage of two goals by John Nuthall and a goal apiece by Ian Gunn and Christian Armas to win the rematch, 4-0, and the championship at South Valleys Regional Sports Complex.
Miners goalkeeper Ben Kohls had held Carson, Fernley (7-0), Reno (2-0) and Truckee (1-0) scoreless before giving up a goal to Nuthall in the eighth minute. Nuthall found some space on the left side, took a pass from Israel Lopez and lashed it in just inside the penalty box to give the Senators all the offense they would need.
"In the first game (against Manogue), we used different tactics and some players had trouble adjusting to it," said first-year Carson coach Nate Brigham. "The first time, a couple of our players were in a different offense and we gave up an early goal. That didn't help us get in the game at all."
Dropping the Senators in their first meeting since joining the Sierra League this season was enough to give the Miners a healthy boost of confidence as they worked their way to the championship game.
"It was a great experience for us," said second-year Miners coach Winston Helms. "We were able to fool around with substitutions and formations. We figured out we we're a pretty good team. Carson is a very, very good champion of this tournament.
"This thing could've gone either way. A lot of young men out there were very tired. They jumped on us early. We had a couple of miscues in the first half. But we never gave up. I'm very proud of our players."
The Senators were able to build their attacks well, had short, accurate passing and, after scoring early, played possession ball. Their midfielders and defense merged so well that senior goalkeeper Brandon Briggs never had to register a save. (Manogue managed three shots to Carson's 11.)
"The boys know what they're doing is working " they're excited about it," Brigham said. "When they were up 4-0, they were busting their butts like it was the beginning of the game."
Junior defender Miguel Camacho dropped in a ball in front of Gunn, who put Carson up 2-0 just before halftime. Nuthall struck again in the 37th minute and senior Adam Updegrove fed Armas eight minutes later to wrap up the scoring.
Brigham said the decision to move Nuthall from his spot at defender " where he played last year " to the midfield has already paid dividends.
"It was obviously a good decision," Brigham said. "He's not just scoring goals, he has good vision and can create goals as well."
Carson will open its regular season at McQueen on Wednesday. The game begins at 3:30 p.m.
CARSON GIRLS WIN TWO OF THREE
Even though it was able to rebound with two victories, a 2-1 loss to McQueen on Friday was enough to keep the Carson girls soccer team out of the finals of the Galena Tournament on Saturday.
Carson beat Wooster 4-0 on Friday and dropped Incline 1-0 on Saturday at South Valleys Regional Sports Complex, giving sixth-year coach Randy Roser an early look at his squad's progress and a chance to play with his lineup as it prepares for its first regular-season game.
"No. 1, fitness isn't where it's supposed to be," Roser said. "We came in at the half " after 25 minutes " and we were tired. We have to work on moving the ball. Our defense is solid, our back four is solid."
In spite of outscoring its opposition 6-2, Roser said he wasn't satisfied with his team's offense.
"Our attacking " we had a lot of opportunities, but we couldn't get any put in, so we have a lot of touches to work on," he said.
Roser said the games did provide insight into which four players he'd used in the back row this season: senior Lauren Schulz and juniors Ashley Turner, Emily Field and Julianne King.
Carson will open its regular season on the road Tuesday against McQueen, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Lancers knocked the Senators out of the first round of the Northern 4A regional playoffs last season.
Douglas won all five of its games Friday and Saturday and defeated South Tahoe, 4-1, in the championship game.