Josue Rivas (12) dribbles up the near sideline against Hug Wednesday night. Rivas had an assist in the Senators' 3-2 loss to undefeated Hug.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
Carson and Hug boys soccer will be more than familiar with each other should the two programs meet again.
After the Senators fell 3-0 Monday at Hug, the Hawks came down to Carson Wednesday and escaped with a 3-2 win
The two programs are used to meeting in the playoffs, but Carson has seven games left in the regular season to make a playoff push.
“Fortunately, there are four teams in that spot,” said Carson High head coach Frank Martinez. “(Hug) They are the best team.”
Hug led 1-0 at halftime, but the drama came in the final forty minutes of play.
In the 47th minute the Hawks doubled their lead, taking advantage of a Carson defensive miscue as Moises Cruz chipped the ball to an open Jose Tamayo in the box.
It was a letdown the Senators were able to quickly answer for.
In the 55th minute, Emiliano Gutierrez capitalized on a Hug error, slotting the Senators’ first goal of the evening.
Two minutes later, Carson’s Josue Rivas bent a corner kick into the middle of the box and Christopher Camacho met it underneath.
Camacho’s header floated to the far back corner of the net and out of reach for the Hawk keeper to tie the contest at 2-2.
“I was hoping that at least we would tie it,” said Martinez. “We just needed to stay composed and play simple.”
When the Hawks were able to get space, their speed showed.
Counter chances came less frequently in the second half for Hug, but in the 66th minute the Hawks knotted the game winner.
Eduardo Martinez slotted his second goal of the contest to give Hug the 3-2 lead it held the rest of the way.
The two goals are just the fifth and sixth goals of the year the Hawks have allowed.
Hawks push pace in opening 40
Hugh had its countering technique dialed in early, catching the Senators shorthanded.
The Carson back line held firm through nearly all of the Hawk chances, putting their bodies in the way to deflect shots.
In the 25th minute the Hawks broke the scoreless tie as Eduardo Martinez ran onto a through ball and muscled his way in-between the ball and the nearest Senator defender.
Martinez struck a hard pass on the ground that gave the Hawks the lead.
In the final 60 seconds of the half, Carson goalie René Gonzalez made two diving saves to keep it a one score contest.
Carson’s head coach is seeing the flashes of play that the Senators will need to continue being successful against quality opponents.
Playing a successful style for 80 minutes will be crucial down the final few weeks of the season.
“We have to play 80 minutes. We kind of play well for sometimes 40 (minutes), sometimes 60. We have to clean it up,” Martinez said.
UP NEXT: Carson (2-6-1) will start that playoff push Saturday at home against Reed (7-2).
(Samuel Guerra (9) winds up to shoot against Hug Wednesday night / Carter Eckl)
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