It's not surprising that Douglas High coach Phil Sheridan and Carson High coach Jim Nealis had somewhat of a different perspective on their boys soccer game Saturday.
While Nealis was much more upbeat about his team's 7-0 win at Carson High, Sheridan was understandably a little frustrated after his young team was beaten by the Senators.
But Sheridan gave Carson some bulletin board material heading into the zone playoffs.
"I don't think they'll go far in the playoffs," said Sheridan, also saying that Carson isn't the strongest club that his team has faced this season.
Nealis had a much different take. "I'm extremely happy with the way we're playing," he said. "We're finally playing the way we've been trained to play.
"We're definitely getting into playoff form. The way we played, there's not a team in the state that can take us."
Carson took a 1-0 lead in the opening minute of the game when Bryce Burgess scored off of an assist by Robby Leiber. The Senators took a 2-0 lead when Jeff Rogers scored on a free kick just outside the goal box. The Tigers' best scoring chance in the first half came when Colton Mellows' shot bounced off the crossbar.
Sheridan was pleased with his team's play in the first half. "We played real well in the first half," he said. "I thought we played as well as they did. I thought we gave them two goals."
But Sheridan wasn't so pleased with his team's play in the second half.
Carson jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the second half when Carlos Hernandez scored on a loose ball in front of the net. Hernandez scored again on a crossing pass from Eric Libby to make it 4-0.
Carson's other goals came when Kirkwood Harris drove from the right side and centered a pass to Burgess, who scored; Alex Wohlforth crossed a pass from the right side to Gary Walker, who scored on a header; and Dan Pasqual scored on a loose ball.
Carson was able to pad the scoring, effectively clinching the first Nevada Appeal Cup, determined by how the Carson and Douglas varsity and junior varsity boys and girls soccer teams did against each other this year.
Nealis had said if given the chance, his team would pad the score if needed to secure the cup.
"He got the chance to do it," Sheridan said. "More power to him."
Carson's bench was able to extend the Senators' lead. "The level of play didn't drop when the subs went in," Nealis said.
Douglas is still in control of the No. 4 seed from the Sierra League into the zone playoffs.
"We're just trying to make the playoffs," Sheridan said. "We're getting there."
Sheridan praised the play of Chris Honer, Mellows and Sean Rahe.
"He played really well in the first half," said Sheridan about Rahe. "Chris Honer played a great game in the middle."
Goalie Sean Carter posted the shutout for Carson, which also won the junior varsity game 4-0.
