Girls' Soccer: Douglas advances to state title game

It's a matchup that has been looming on the Douglas girls' soccer team's minds for the last two years.

In four matchups over the past two years, Douglas has settled for three ties against the rival Carson Senators and suffered a loss to the Senators earlier this season on a goal in the final minutes.

And it was a given that the two teams were going to meet sometime, somewhere in the postseason.

That time came Friday night in the state semifinals at Damonte Ranch and in the end, Carson held the advantage nearly everywhere except where it mattered most - on the scoreboard.

Douglas advanced to the state title game with a 2-0 win that saw the Senators carry edge in shots (20-9), time of possession and overall scoring chances.

"We knew we'd see Carson again, we just didn't know when it would be," said Douglas keeper Bri Randall, who posted 13 saves in her sixth solo shutout of the season. "They're a great team, we're a great team. It felt so good to get that win, just amazing, fantastic."

Douglas made quick work of getting on the scoreboard as Katie Dry broke loose for a long run down the right wing. She crossed wide for an unmarked Tia Lyons, who hammered it in for the goal in the third minute.

"We just missed a mark and that hurt us," Roser said. "We told the girls all week, if you get down 1-0, it'll be tough to come back."

Carson ramped up its pressure after that, outshooting Douglas 10-6 in the first half and stringing together no less than seven solid scoring chances.

Tiger keeper Bri Randall, though, came up big with six of her 13 saves in the first half while the Tiger defense of Holly Downer, Shannon Prinz, Erica Macias and Erica Arrellano managed to hold off some of the pressure.

Carson's best first-half chance came in the 27th minute when Kenzie Tillitt crossed for Kaitlyn Holmes, who sent a long, high arcing shot from just five yards out. Randall lept to haul it in with her fingertips, ending the threat.

We were having trouble clearing the ball in front of the goal mouth," Douglas coach Lorraine Fitzhugh said. "It's something we've had to work on, but we adjusted well in the second half.

"The girls came and rallied and connected at the right times."

Douglas extended its lead to 2-0 in the 55th minute, this time with Lyons sending a clear up top that sprung Dry with one defender to beat before Heller. Dry and the Carson defender collided. Dry recovered first, chased the ball three yards back upfield and shot it past Heller from 15 yards out.

After that, Douglas moved its fastest players, namely Dry, to the back, to prevent any late comebacks.

"The plan, if we got a couple goals, was to put Katie in back," Fitzhugh said. "I like an offensive, aggressive game, but we pulled a forward back to start, just to shore up the midfield, and we were still very offensive with that look.

"This was a game where we wanted it to be Carson. It was between Damonte and them (in the semifinals). Nothing against Damonte, but I love a rivalry. I love a fight like this. The kids really welcome the idea of having to rise to another level."