Carson High senior Angel Flores builds up to shoot against Reed, during the Senators' opening round Class 5A North regional playoff game Monday night. Flores scored off a free kick in the final moments to force extra time.
Photo by Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.
Monday night’s Class 5A North regional postseason opener between Carson and Reed boys soccer had it all.
With mere seconds remaining in regulation, the Senators saved their season with a goal from Angel Flores on a free kick, tying the game at 2-2 and forcing extra time.
However, Reed headed in the game winner in the 99th minute to seal a 3-2 win, during golden goal extra time.
“Very proud. We were up, then we went down and came back,” said Carson High head coach Pedro Chavez. “Unfortunately, we just couldn’t capitalize in the end. As I told the boys, one split second is what happens and they capitalized on the opportunity they had.”
Reed advances to play No. 1 Sparks Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the regional semifinal.
Closing out the fall
There was belief, elation and conviction throughout Monday night’s chilly affair.
It also featured the most common emotion in the postseason – heartbreak.
Carson’s season came to a close after giving up the final goal in extra time, ending their season on their home field.
It’ll take a little time, but there’s a lot for the Senators to be fond of following the 2023 campaign.
In 17 games last season, Carson managed 13 goals.
This fall, the Senators scored 33 times in 19 games, putting together nearly double the production on the offensive end in the second year under Chavez.
Flores’ goal to force extra time lit up the home sideline.
With hardly any time remaining, the Senators got a free kick five yards from the top of the 18-yard box.
Josue Gomez, who scored the first goal of the game, took the free kick by tapping it to his right for Flores.
The senior center back loaded up on his right plant leg and fired with his left on goal.
His shot seemed to confuse the Reed defense and took one hop before sliding by the Raider keeper into the left corner.
“Angel has a good leg and a good shot,” said Chavez. “To have a set play that we practiced the night before, … it was impressive.”
END REG | Carson 2, Reed 2
Angel Flores scores on a free kick just before the buzzer. Unreal. Senators save it in the final moments.
We are headed to extra time.
It will be golden goal. pic.twitter.com/BzSOKJeRst
Gomez, also a senior, scored the opener in the second minute off an assist from his brother Jaden Gomez from a corner kick.
Reed scored twice in-between the Carson goals in the 37th minute and 45th minute.
The difference between year one and year two under Chavez’s leadership is certainly something the head man noticed as well.
“We were moving the ball. That was something the team didn’t do last year,” said Chavez. “Its just playing soccer the way you’re supposed to play and we are going to continue that next season.”
Carson will lose nine seniors from Monday night’s lineup prior to next season in Gomez, Flores, Diego Valdovinos, Samuel Guerra Plascencia, Steve Gomez, Joel Alcaraz, Aby Zambrano, Rene Gonzalez and Juan Cabrera.
Regional soccer scores
No. 1 Sparks 2, No. 4 Wooster 1
No. 1 Damonte Ranch 3, No. 4 North Valleys 0
No. 2 Hug 2, No. 3 Galena 0