RENO — The streak is still alive.
Despite missing defender Christian Martinez, the Carson High defense held North Valleys to just five second-half shots in a 5-0 win in a Division I crossover boys soccer match Saturday afternoon.
Carson coach Mike Alvarez moved Jaime Saldana to midfield and moved Brian Llamas to the back line to team with starters Sal Rodriguez, Osvaldo Gomez and Peter Garrett. The unit never missed a beat, and keeper Efren Ramirez only had to make a couple of stops.
Carson moved to 5-0 on the season, and has yet to give up a goal. The Senators conclude their crossover schedule Wednesday at 7 p.m. against McQueen.
“No, we don’t think about a shutout,” Garrett said. “Obviously we want to win, and if we get a shutout, great.
“We didn’t let down in the second half. Our midfielders weren’t dropping back as much as they should have (or did in the first half). North Valleys had some more opportunities in the second half for that reason.”
Alvarez said the North Valleys game was Carson’s first true test.
“The coaching staff talked to the kids about this being the first true test of the season even though North Valleys is not as highly ranked as they were last year,” Alvarez said. “And, the team stepped up as indicated by the final score.
“We’ve spent a lot of time on finishing (plays). We had seven or eight opportunities in the first half and converted four of them.”
Carson put the pressure on the Panthers from the outset. Rogelio Herrera hit the post in the fourth minute of the game, and that kind of set the tone for the game.
Oscar Ventura scored his second and third goals of the season in a span of three minutes to give the Senators a 2-0 lead.
The first came in the eighth minute and the second was in the 11th minute.
“Both of their defenders went toward him (Abel Sanchez), and it opened things up,” Ventura said. “The second one I think they got confused, and I got the ball (and scored unassisted).”
In the 31st minute, Guillermo Perez rifled a left-footer in from 30 yards out. NV keeper Efren Rodriguez was injured on the play, and the game was held up for about 10 minutes until he could be helped off the field. Seven minutes later, Herrera took a long bouncing ball and somehow got a kick off which got past reserve keeper Eduardo Hernandez to make it 4-0.
The score remained 4-0 until the 73rd minute when Saldana scored the final goal of the contest.
• In JV action, Carson rolled to a 4-1 win. Angel Gonzalez scored twice for the Senators, while Isael Lopez and Ramon Rojas added a goal apiece.