Freshman fullback Christian Martinez gains control of the ball in a game against Galena Wednesday night at CHS.
This time Carson High didn’t suffer a late-game letdown.
The Senators scored two second-half goals en route to a 3-2 win over league-leading Galena in a Sierra League boys soccer match Wednesday night at the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex.
Carson improved to 9-4-1 and Galena fell to 11-2-1. The Senators, who let a 3-2 lead slip away late in the game the first time around versus the Grizzlies, are trying to catch Wooster for second place in the Sierra League and a first-round home playoff game. Carson returns to action Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Bishop Manogue.
“It’s huge,” Carson coach Mike Alvarez said. “We just came off a great win against Wooster (last week), and we had to prove to ourselves that we could beat Galena. I think Galena is a very good passing team. We had to limit their possessions and we did that.”
“We had them the first game,” said high-scoring forward Ryan Galvan, who had a goal and assist. “This time we kept attacking and had great execution.”
Galvan played a major role in the win with his 18th goal of the season off an assist from Jose Lozano to tie the game at 1 in the 23rd minute. Lozano somehow got by several Galena defenders, and Galvan flicked the ball past Porter Rittenhouse.
“I saw the loose ball, and when that happens I’m going to go after that,” Galvan said. “When they make a mistake, I want to take advantage of it.”
Galvan got off a shot eight minutes later which was turned away. Galena had a good run in the 32nd minute, but didn’t get off a shot. In extra time, Carlos Alvarado twice stifled scoring attempts by the Grizzlies.
Carson took the lead for good in the 45th minute when Octavio Virrueta sent a through ball to Guillermo Hernandez, who knocked one past Rittenhouse for a 2-1 lead. Hernandez sat out the first contest against the Grizzlies for disciplinary reasons.
“Guillermo had several great looks,” Alvarez said. ‘He’s really elevated his play the last five or six games.”
That set the stage for the game-winning goal courtesy of Galvan and Rogelio Herrera in the 70th minute.
Galvan was being marked by a Galena defender, and with the heel of his right foot, got the ball to Herrera who turned it into a goal.
“The creativity on some of these goals is great,” Alvarez said. “Ryan is a very unselfish player. That was a great play.”
Galena’s Henry Zarate hit a header wide in the 71st minute and Hernandez hit the post in extra time. Ian Burns drove one past Efren Herrera moments before the final whistle. Herrera played a solid game with six saves on nine Galena shots. Carson had just seven shots on goal, but obviously made them count.
The back line of Christian Martinez, Alvarado, Peter Garrett and Salvador Rodriguez played a solid game.
VOLLEYBALL
Dayton sweeps Sparks
Cheyanne Strong spent some time at setter and Shalia Powell saw some time at outside hitter for the Dust Devils (8-6 in league) as they rolled to a 26-24, 25-16, 25-14 win.
Strong had 12 kills, five assists, two digs and five aces, Powell had two kills, 16 assists, four aces and five digs, Kaylee Turner had seven kills, Kallie Strong had one kill, one ace and one dig, Kassie Strong had two kills, Makenna Olsen had one kill, Elvia Diaz had one kill and seven digs, Katie Turner had two kills and Taylor Lockett added three kills for Dayton.