Carson’s Monse Iza crosses the ball against Galena’s Jane Flynn during Monday’s first round postseason game in regional play. Galena was able to get by Carson, 2-1.
Photo by Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.
Tears were flowing on the Carson High sideline after the final whistle blew Monday night on the Senators’ season.
In the 78th minute, Galena’s Katie Muff – one of Northern Nevada’s leading scorers – extinguished the last bit of light in Carson’s season.
The Grizzlies were able to get a ball over the last line of the Senators’ defense, which Muff ran onto and buried as the game winner.
The goal gave No. 5 Galena a 2-1 win over No. 4 Carson, ending the Senators’ season in the first round of the Class 5A North regional playoffs.
“It’s definitely been the best season for me, for sure,” said Carson senior captain Gracie Walt. “We improved so much as a program and it will continue to get better as well. We just grew up together.”
Nail biting finish
Galena got on the board first as well Monday.
Out in transition, Muff put a shot past the Senators’ but it kicked off the post.
However, it ricocheted right to the foot of a Grizzly attacker, who netted the first goal in the 33rd minute.
Carson needed little time to answer.
In the 37th minute, Senator defender Stella Johnson cleared a ball from the near sideline out to Alyssa Tomita on the far left side of the field.
Tomita used a perfectly weighted through ball to a streaking Addy Morgan, who buried her shot into the right side netting.
It was Morgan’s seventh goal of her sophomore season.
Out of the half, Galena picked up its offensive pressure.
The 55th minute nearly saw the Grizzles break through again after a loose ball in the box turned into a mad scramble.
Galena put two shots up off the crossbar before Carson was able to clear the ball from its own end.
Seven minutes later, Lyna Alvarado grabbed a steal and found Morgan on an outlet pass.
Morgan went back to Alvarado, but the senior’s shot was saved by Galena.
Unofficially, Carson had at least five shots on goal in the loss.
A rousing success of a season
The sting may last for the Senator players, but the 2022 season is one for the program’s record books.
Carson closes the book on an 11-7-2 record this season, the first winning record the program has had since 2016.
One of the senior’s main goals was to host a home playoff game; another accomplishment not seen since 2016.
Though the Senators’ season ended Monday night, it’ll be one that the team should look back on and remember fondly.
“The season meant a lot. I’ve been playing with these girls since my freshman year and seeing us progress and come together as a team is so huge,” said Alvarado. “To end together in playoffs is such an amazing feeling. Having our family get to see us play, especially one last time on our home field was really nice. It didn’t go our way, but we still worked really hard.”
(Carson’s Vanessa Quezado dribbles into the midfield during first round postseason action Monday in Class 5A. / Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage)