Guillermo Galvan-Hernandez battles for the ball with a Galena player Wednesday in a game that ended in a 1-1 tie at Galena High.
RENO — When Carson High met Galena on Wednesday, injuries stopped coach Michael Alvarez from putting his best lineup on the field.
Defender Salvatore Rodriguez is out for the season with a foot injury, leading scorer Rogelio Herrera has a leg injury and Alex Gonzalez is still sidelined with a back injury. Not exactly what you want with two games left and a possible homefield edge riding on the outcome of next week’s games.
The Senators gave up an early goal, but got a goal from Brian Llamas en route to a 1-1 draw Wednesday afternoon.
Carson improved to 10-3-1 while Galena is now 8-2-4. CHS and Galena are battling for the No. 2 spot behind Wooster. Carson has a four-point lead with matches against last-place Manogue on Saturday at home and a road match against Douglas next Wednesday.
“We’re really hurting in the midfield and defense because of the injuries,” Alvarez said. “We’re down to our last guys. Rogelio and Alex are key guys in the midfield.”
Not having Rodriguez is huge. He’s a big body along with Peter Garrett, who left Wednesday’s match with what appears to be a chest injury. Rodriguez is a physical player. His spot was taken by Guillermo Perez-Morris, who’s smaller and faster, but not as physical.
Getting a point on Wednesday was critical, but in all reality it should have been a win given the tremendous first-half offensive display by the Senators. Carson outshot Galena, 15-4, but other than Llamas’ goal in the eighth minute, was unable to finish.
Both goals in the game came within the first 10 minutes. Rodrigo Contreras gave Galena a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute, and Llamas tied it four minutes later.
The Senators had 11 shots on goal after the Llamas score. Abel Sanchez pounded one off the crossbar in the 29th minute which was the best opportunity in the opening 40 minutes.
“I’m kind of disappointed (about the first half),” forward Oscar Ventura said. “We should have been able to score a few times.”
Galena took the game to Carson in the final 40 minutes, outshooting Carson, 7-4.
Carson keeper Efren Ramirez deflected a shot by Contreras in the 67th minute, and then turned back a rebound attempt by the Galena standout. Sanchez had another great attempt in the 71st minute which was deflected by Galena back-up keeper Francisco Cazares, who came in when Porter Rittenhouse was injured in the 55th minute.
“It was tough to see opportunities we had and not be able to convert,” Alvarez said. “I told the kids at halftime that the team that wanted it the most would win. We looked tired out there.”
Carson needs to take care of business against Manougue. A win over the Miners would lock up second place. Even if Galena won twice the best it could do was tie Carson in points. The Senators would have the head-to-head advantage.
Douglas edges Miners
MINDEN — Pedro Vega scored three first-half goals to help put Douglas out front in its 4-2 win at home against Manogue on Wednesday.
The win, coupled with Wooster’s 3-0 win over Damonte Ranch, enabled Douglas (5-6-3 league, 9-6-4 overall) to clinch fourth-place in the Sierra League and a berth in the region tournament. This will mark the first playoff appearance for the Tigers since 2009.
Vega scored on a direct kick in the fourth minute and Kobe Hinnant scored off an assist from Chris McKimmey in the seventh minute as the Tigers took an early 2-0 lead. Vega scored again, this time assisted by Javier Vega, then completed his hat trick when he blasted home a long ball to the far post to extend the lead to 4-0 before halftime.
The Tigers now hold a seven-point lead over Damonte Ranch (3-9-2) in the league standings with two games left to play.
Vikings blank Dayton
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — The Vikings scored all four goals in the first half en route to a 4-0 win.
“It’s getting tougher to play competitive with these top teams due to injuries and having to move the lineup around with such a young,inexperienced bench,” Dayton coach Luis Melgarejo said.
Dayton hosts Truckee Saturday at noon.
VOLLEYBALL
Douglas downs Galena
MINDEN — Isabelle Peterson knocked down 12 kills and Taryn Allmet added 11 to lead the Tigers to a 25-21, 21-25, 25-5 and 25-17 win Tuesday night.
Peterson added two aces and four blocks, while Allmet added two aces, one block and two digs. Talyn Jackson had 12 digs, nine kills, four blocks and 25 assists. Aubrey Caires finished with seven kills, two aces, one block and one dig. Johnnie Saletti had six kills and nine digs.