Carson's Guillermo Hernandez scores a goal for the Senators in the first half against Reno at CHS Wednesday evening.
Abel Sanchez is making up for lost time.
Sanchez, who was academically ineligible last season, celebrated his first varsity game with two goals to lead Carson High’s boys soccer team to a resounding 6-0 season-opening win over out manned Reno in a Division I crossover match Wednesday night at the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex.
Both of Sanchez’s goals came in the second half, one in the 45th minute and the second in the 76th minute on a penalty kick. Osvaldo Gomez, Guillermo Hernandez, Rogelio Herrera and Brian Llamas added a goal apiece
“I’m very happy that I scored two goals,” Sanchez said through coach Mike Alvarez. “I was a little nervous.”
“We are thrilled to have him,” Alvarez said. “I knew he would be an asset. He has a very good attitude.”
Alvarez said Sanchez played for a local club soccer team to keep his skills sharp.
While Alvarez is thrilled to have Sanchez on his roster, he had to be giddy about the way his team played. Unofficially, Carson got off 22 shots compared to 6 for the Huskies, who had no serious scoring opportunities in the final 40 minutes.
“Overall I’m very pleased,” the CHS coach said. “I saw some things that we need to work on. Despite the score, we had some good scoring opportunities that we were unable to convert.
“Defensively, we were using a new formation (3 on the back row). We changed in the second half and went back to four (defenders). The kids are more comfortable with four back in terms of a support system.”
Peter Garrett, Gomez, Salvador Rodriguez and Christian Martinez played stellar defensive games. Other than a shot in the 41st minute and a header eight minutes later, the Huskies’ second-half offense was ugly.
Carson broke the scoreless tie in the 26th minute when Reno turned the ball over in its own half of the field.
Oscar Ventura got the ball to Herrera, who beat the Reno goalie.
It started a mini barrage, as the Senators scored on two of their next three shots following Herrera’s score, turning the contest into no contest.
In the 28th minute, Gomez put one in the left corner to make it 2-0, and after a misfire, Hernandez hammered one in from about 30 yards out to make it 3-0. All three scores came in a 6-minute span.
Sanchez made it 4-0 in the 45th minute.
“I saw the goalie come up, and I just chipped it over,” Sanchez said through Alvarez.
Carson took five more shots, but was turned away.
Carson returns to action next Wednesday at home against Reed.
The Senators’ Llamas, off an assist by Herrera, made it 5-0 in the 74th minute. Sanchez finished the night’s festivities with a PK.
•The JV squad also won 6-0 thanks to two goals apiece from Raul Lopez and Misael Viramontes. Eddie Porter and Brandon Sevilla added a goal each.