Carson High Forward Angie Cortes shoots for the only goal of the game between the Spanish Springs Cougars and the Carson High Senators Tuesday.
Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage
Angie Cortes and Carson High girls’ soccer needed just one chance to get past Spanish Springs for the second time this season.
Cortes volleyed home a cross in the 46th minute as the only tally of the game to push the Senators over the Cougars, 1-0.
The goal-scoring play started down the home sideline on a run by junior Alyssa Tomita.
In one motion, Tomita cut back to her right foot, garnered a little space and lofted a cross into the center of the box.
With her left leg, Cortes put her shot right underneath the crossbar and into the netting.
“The way I saw it, Angie came out of nowhere,” said senior captain Kaylee Garcia. “I feel like she is always at the right spot at the right time.”
Fellow senior captain Reese Mackenzie applauded Tomita’s ability to create enough space to get the cross into the box.
“I thought Alyssa did a good job beating the defender, pulling it back on her and getting the perfect pass to it,” said Mackenzie.
Tomita put another shot just wide in the 55th minute as well.
A physical second half saw the Cougars counter with the occasional chance.
In the 57th minute, Carson goalkeeper Alondra Carrillo punched a save over the net to steer away a Cougar chance.
Six minutes later, Nat Wakelyn was running a Senator chance the opposite direction.
Wakeling was able to carry the ball at her feet for about 30 yards before unleashing a shot that sailed just over the far corner of the net.
The Senators were much more of the aggressors in the second half.
“It was a little slow at first, but then I feel like we all really got our heads in the game and worked together, we knew we were going to make our opportunities happen,” said Wakeling.
(Alyssa Tomita (14) crosses her assist into the box, which Angie Cortes finished off for the game-winning goal Tuesday / Carter Eckl)
Scoreless opening half
The Senators certainly had the better chances in the opening half against the Cougars.
In the fourth minute, Gracie Walt put a right-footed shot off the corner of the goal post that kicked out of play.
Two minutes later, Carson was in on net and a cross found its way into the netting, but the Senators’ chance was ruled offside.
Spanish Springs’ best chance in the opening half came on a breakaway in the 16th minute, but Carson goalie Amy Funes had no problems turning the chance away from net.
Carrillo took over for Funes in the second half in net.
It took until the final minutes of the opening half for Carson to break out of the midfield and get another chance on goal.
Tomita sprinted in from the right side of the 18-yard box after an over-the-top pass from Walt ran her into space.
Tomita aimed to the far post, but the Cougars’ keeper was able to knock the shot down and keep the contest scoreless.However, the Senators didn't need long to get on the scoreboard.
UP NEXT: Carson (3-4) will get to stay at home for its next contest Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Reno (2-7). The Huskies beat the Senators in their first meeting this season, 1-0.
(Reese Mackenzie dekes a Spanish Springs
defender Tuesday night / Carter Eckl)
