Carson High School soccer: Senators top Damonte Ranch, 2-0

Between a heartbreaking loss to Douglas last weekend, and Homecoming week, Carson High soccer coach Greg Lehman knew his girls would have their work cut out for them Tuesday afternoon.

Carson got scores from Karla Reyes and Isabella Wakeling en route to a rather dull 2-0 win over Damonte Ranch, giving the Senators a sweep of the season series.

The win upped Carson’s record to 7-2-2 entering Thursday’s make-up game at McQueen.

“We’re trying to get them to focus on each game,” Lehman said. “It’s Homecoming week, and we have candidates and girls involved in many of the events.

“I’m assuming we do (have to win the rest to get a home playoff game). We’re going to focus on every game and worry about (Galena and Douglas) when they come here.”

Carson entered the game nine points behind Douglas and seven behind Galena. Carson is a solid third, and if the season ended today, the Senators would travel to Reno for a first-round game.

“The girls are going to play hard whether they’re on the road or at home, but it would be nice to get a home game (in the first round),” Lehman said. “We enjoy playing at home.”

Lehman did admit playing on the road is not a big of a deal compared to football and basketball. Crowd size plays a big factor in that.

Carson got off to a lackluster start, managing just one shot on goal in the first 13 minutes. Damonte didn’t attack much, mostly concentrating on defense and clogging the field on the Senators. It worked well.

Carson finally broke through in the 23rd minute when Karla Reyes headed in a throw-in from Galilea Cid.

“I just headed it out of the air,” said Reyes, who now has three goals on the season.

“Galilea has a great throw-in,” Lehman said. “That’s the first time in two years we’ve been able to take advantage of it.”

Cid was part of a group of subs who entered the game midway through the first half, and Lehman felt they gave the team a lift.

“They came in the second 20 minutes and played with a lot of intensity,” Lehman said. “I liked the fact that we were able to play everybody. All of the girls were able to contribute, and I think down the line it will help us. You need everybody to be able to come in and play. Sierra came in and did a great job, and Galilea’s play made a difference.”

The defense, which was stellar throughout thanks to the efforts of Scroggins, Lindy Lehman, Bailie Zuber, Andrea Maffei and Makaela Bigley, allowed just one shot on goal in the match. That came in the 67th minute and it was wide of the mark.

In the 77th minute, Wakeling, who scored her first goal of the season last week against Manogue, took a pass from Mayra Olivares and deposited her shot past Carolina Alonso for an insurance goal.

“We let down a little bit,” said Karla Reyes.

Reyes believes the Senators are capable of producing wins against Galena (4-2 loss) and Douglas (2-1 loss). The fact both games are home certainly helps.

“We need to clean things up and get better,” Lehman said. “They were packing their defense in and we got impatient.”