Lauren Hudak battles for the ball in a match against Galena on Tuesday night.
At least for this year, Galena seems to have Carson High’s number.
The Grizzlies, on the strength of Ashley Agrella’s goal from about 30 yards out, knocked off the Senators, 1-0, Tuesday night in a Sierra League girls soccer match at the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex.
The win gave the Grizzlies a sweep of the season series and a big edge over CHS in the battle for second place. With just two matches left in the season, Galena has 34 points and Carson 29. The Grizzlies finish with Wooster and Damonte Ranch, while Carson finishes with Bishop Manogue and Douglas.
In two games against Galena this year, Carson has been outscored, 5-2. Galena won the first battle, 4-2.
“When you don’t score goals, you’re not going to win,” Carson coach Greg Lehman said. “We just seem to have a hard time in the final 30 yards. We’re not able to get a good touch or a good shot.”
Carson had just two shots on goal the entire night, as Galena played another good defensive game. The Grizzlies have held Carson without a goal for the last 69 minutes in the two-game series.
“It was really a hard-fought game,” said Galena coach Annie DiLoretto. “Carson has a great team. The majority of the game was played in the midfield. When that happens, you have to take care of opportunities.”
And, that’s exactly what Galena did in the first half.
Carson keeper Kim Reyes tossed the ball out, and after a brief battle for possession, the ball was controlled by Agrella, whose shot in the 32nd minute sailed over the head of Reyes, who was unable to get back in position after tossing the ball out.
“That didn’t go the way she wanted,” Lehman said. “They seized an opportunity and we didn’t.”
“I’ve seen that happen a lot,” DiLoretto said.
Galena made a good run two minutes later and also had a good look in the 38th minute. Carson failed to put a shot between the posts in the first 40 minutes.
The second half was pretty much a carbon copy of the first. There was more action in the final 17 minutes than there was in the first 23 minutes of the second half.
Carson’s best chance to score came in the 75th minute when Carson put a through ball, which a Galena defender failed to get a foot on. Mayra Olivares ripped a nice shot which glanced off the right upright. Carson had another good look three minutes later but the shot went wide right. The Senators made a good run in extra time, but didn’t get off a shot.
Carson visits Manogue Saturday at 1 p.m.