Soccer wrap: Carson boys end regular season with a win over Vikings

Nevada Appeal Staff Report

Even though it was a game that didn't mean anything as far as the Northern 4A playoff seedings were concerned, the Carson High boys soccer team wanted to play like its entire season depended on the result.

And while it took the Senators a half to really put it together, they scored three goals early in a 10-minute stretch in the second half on their way to a 3-1 win at South Tahoe. Another highlight in the game came when Carson goalie Brandon Briggs tied a state record.

Carson already had its third straight Sierra League title and the No. 1 seed that goes with it wrapped, leading CHS coach Nate Brigham to think about if he would rest his starters.

"That's something I've kind of been debating all week," he said.

But in the end, Brigham didn't hold anything back.

"The kids have a lot of momentum right now," Brigham said. "I want to make sure they keep the momentum going."

As they have done several times this year, Briggs and Adam Updegrove combined for Carson's first goal. Briggs sent a long ball down the field with his powerful foot and after the ball took a bounce, Updegrove took it, got behind the defense and scored.

Blake Moreland then sent an outstanding through ball to Izzy Lopez, who scored.

"It was a great finish," Brigham said.

Carson made it 3-0 on a one-on-one situation between Christian Armas and South Tahoe's goalie. The Viking goalie had to take down Armas, giving Armas a penalty kick, which he converted.

"It was a tale of two halves," Brigham said. "The game really started to open up for us in the second half."

Briggs came out in the 64th minute and since he played more than 60 minutes, he was credited with his 29th career shutout, tying a state record. Briggs will go for the state record when the first round of the playoffs begin this Saturday. CHS will play the High Desert League's No. 4 seed at 4 p.m. at Damonte Ranch.

SOUTH TAHOE 3, CARSON GIRLS 0

In what was really a meaningless game for both teams, the Vikings scored three goals in the second half to break a scoreless halftime tie.

Carson had several chances to score with an open net in the second half, but couldn't convert. Arrin Rumbaugh, brought up from the junior varsity, also drew a foul in the goal box. But Brandi Vega was denied on the penalty kick by the Vikings' goalie.

"I thought we had it going in the second half," Carson coach Randy Roser said. "Tahoe played well."

The Senators were already locked into the Sierra League's No. 4 seed and will play High Desert League champion Reed at 4 p.m. Friday at Damonte Ranch in the first round of the zone playoffs.

Carson beat Reed 5-2 early in the season, but has been hit with numerous injuries since then. The Senators are without one of their top offensive players in Samantha Fishburn, who's out for the season.

The Senators were also without another top offensive player, Brenda Luquin, who was serving a one-game suspension on Saturday after receiving a red card. Luquin will be able to return for the playoffs.

Goalie Jen Johnson is also playing hurt. Johnson played the entire game on Saturday and Roser said her condition should continue to improve heading into the playoffs.

DOUGLAS BOYS 2, FALLON O

Edgar Arceo scored his 15th and 16th goals of the season to lead the Tigers past the Greenwave.

Arceo scored his first goal on an assist from Morgan Clancy and put the game away on an unassisted adventure through four players.

Douglas was eliminated from playoff consideration when it lost to South Tahoe last week and ended its season 11-11-1 overall and went 5-8-1 in the Sierra League.

"How can I complain. My boys gave me a lot hustle," said Tigers coach Milko Vasquez, who singled out the play of sweeper Brian Randall, who played with an injured knee all season and midfielder Ross Gardner, who came back this season from surgery on his ACL. "We lost eight games by one goal. It's tough to accept, but if we lost eight games by one goal, it means we were in those games. That's all I can ask for as a coach."

Vasquez also credited goalkeeper Ivan Gonzalez for his play in front of the net as well as parents, who he said have supported him "100 percent" over the last four years.

"We had a lot of wholes to fill," Vasquez said. "I was proud how we finished the season. We have 12 (players) coming back. Next year's club should be pretty good."

CARSON JV BOYS 1, SOUTH TAHOE 1

The Senators clinched their third consecutive Sierra League title by drawing with the Vikings. Luis Camacho took a pass from goalkeeper Pedro Chavez and put Carson in the lead with a goal in the 25th minute.

The Vikings tied the game in the 65th minute, but they couldn't overcome the keeper combination of Chavez and David Yanez.

Defenders Skyler Greenman, Carlos Munoz, Guillermo Alonzo, Sammy Ayala and Javier Barrios all had strong play for Carson, which has lost one game in the last three years.

SOUTH TAHOE JV GIRLS 4, CARSON 0

The Senators ended their season 10-4. Carson coach Alli Otto singled out forward/midfielder Sharon Montiel, defender Katie McFarren and forward Eva Arraz for their play.

Freshman goalkeeper Ali Fleming was called up by the Senators varsity squad for the upcoming playoffs.