Jim Grant / Nevada Appeal
There is no worse feeling than seeing your arch-rival celebrate a league title on your field.
That's what Carson High had to endure Monday night, as two goals by McKenna Kynett and one by Lexi Weaver enabled the Douglas Tigers to grab a 3-1 win and capture the regular-season Sierra League crown.
Douglas finished 14-2, while the Senators ended up 13-1-2. The Douglas win avenged a loss earlier this year.
It's the eighth regular-season title for the Tigers and their third title in the last five years.
"We're always a strong team," Douglas coach Lorraine Fitzhugh said. "This group is just starting. We have a young team. They're just learning and doing well while they learn.
"We have smart and exciting players who connect the ball well and use each other on the field. We have very good team defense."
After sailing through the first 15 games without a loss, Monday's loss was a tough one to swallow for the Senators.
"We had lots and lots of opportunities in the first half and couldn't convert any of them," Carson coach Greg Lehman said.
The game was scoreless for the first 36 minutes with both teams failing to convert on some good opportunities.
Douglas finally broke through when Lindy Lehman was unable to clear a ball out of the Carson end. Weaver blasted a shot that Emmy Heller made a great diving stop on. However, Heller was unable to maintain control of the ball, and Weaver chipped it in to make it 1-0.
In the 50th minute, Carson was awarded a penalty kick when Michelle Sandage was pulled down in the penalty box. Kenzie Tillitt, normally very accurate on PKs, sent one wide right.
"A little bit," Lehman said when asked if the missed kick changed the momentum. "It was a chance for us to tie the game."
Four minutes later, Douglas made it 2-0 when Kynett, off a pass from Weaver, beat Heller. In the 66th minute, Douglas added another goal when Heller came out to play a ball and kicked it but failed to clear it, and Kynett ripped one into the open net.
"Emmy came out and played the ball and it went to her (Kynett)," Lehman said. "They made us pay for our mistakes."
That's what good teams do, and the Tigers are a good team.
Sandage had a chance to score moments later, but her shot sailed over the crossbar.
In extra time, Tillitt was pulled down in the penalty box and converted the PK this time to complete the scoring.
Carson will host a playoff game early next week.
VOLLEYBALL
Fernley tops Dayton in 4
DAYTON - Fernley knocked off Dayton 3-1 in a Division IA volleyball match Tuesday night.
The Dust Devils, who played without star hitter Madison Foley, finish their season on Thursday night at Fallon.
Ashley Vickers led the Dust Devils with 11 kills and 16 digs, while Taryn Schriner had 19 digs and Elvia Diaz added 11. Peach Coons contributed even digs, eight assists and two kills, while Alyse Fletcher had two kills, six assists and three digs. Lettie Lynch finished with nine digs and two kills.