Carson High's boys soccer team started the home stretch of its Sierra League season with a resounding win and moved into sole possession of second place in the process.
The Senators got two goals apiece from Izzy Lopez, Gustavo Gonzalez and Luis Camacho en route to an easy 9-0 win over Damonte Ranch on Wednesday night at Carson High School.
Carson improved to 7-2-1. Galena fell to third at 6-2-2 after tying South Tahoe 2-2. Bishop Manogue maintained its hold on first place with a 1-0 win over Fallon. The Miners are 8-2-0 with both losses coming to Carson.
The road gets much tougher on Saturday when Carson visits Galena. The teams tied 1-1 in the first meeting at Carson. After Galena, the Senators finish with Fallon, South Tahoe and Douglas.
"At this point every game is a big game," Carson coach Nate Brigham said. "To be league champions we have to win out (and Manogue has to lose or tie one game) so every game is a big game. If we win out and Bishop Manogue wins out I'd be happy. We would have a six-game win streak going into the playoffs.
"The two losses that we've had because of (lack of) effort. South Tahoe and Wooster played well in those games. We let them run over us. Our skill is there."
Effort, according to Lopez, accounted for Carson's lack of offense the last couple of weeks. Goals had been tough to come by.
"I'm saying it was effort," Lopez said. "We need more heart. That's what we need."
Brigham said the team got away from its possession style offense.
"Tonight was Carson soccer at its best," Brigham said. "We possessed the ball well and our movement was quick. If we possess the ball and have movement, nobody is going to keep up. They (players) aren't going to outrun the ball."
Carson also unveiled a new line-up, moving Brian Duran back to fullback and moving Jorge Guevara to controlling midfielder. Duran wanted to make the move, telling Brigham that he felt more comfortable in the back row. The move seemed to pay off, as both players performed well at their new positions.
Carson scored two goals in the first 6 1/2 minutes, as Ian Gunn scored off a Humberto Elizondo assist with 34 minutes, 8 seconds left in the first half. Forty seconds later Carson had built its lead to 2-0 when Lopez beat the Damonte defender down the left side and drilled one to the short side. Instead of reaching down to stop the ball or leaving his feet, the Damonte keeper tried to kick the ball and was unsuccessful.
Carson made it 3-0 in the 25th minute when Duran played a through ball to Moises Romo, who assisted the first of Camacho's two goals. Gonzalez closed out the first-half scoring with a penalty kick in the 36th minute.
The Senators poured it on in the second half with five goals, as Brigham subbed liberally.
Damonte had five shots, three on goal. Carson keeper David Yanez was forced to make just two saves.
JV: CARSON 3, DAMONTE 0
Sam Hutchinson contributed a goal and an assist as Carson blanked the Mustangs.
Dan Zuber and Jose Gonzalez scored the Senators' final two goals.
Gonzalez and Charles Larkin shared time in goal, and coach Joe Briggs praised the defensive play of Scott Tilton, Danny Alonso, Alex Azzam and Omar Garcia.