Jeremiah Schenzel scored one goal and assisted on two others to help the Carson High School boys soccer team to a 5-1 victory against Reed Saturday morning in Sparks.
Five different players scored for the Senators, who improved their overall season record to 2-1 (1-0 Sierra League). Their performance was also significantly improved from a 3-1 defeat at North Tahoe on Tuesday night.
"We played much better. I think the North Tahoe game was kind of a wakeup call for us," Carson coach Jason Koop said. "We were a team again today, which is what we've been striving for."
Enrique Mendoza scored off an assist from Ernesto Ayala to give Carson a 1-0 lead that stood at halftime.
"In the first half, we hit the crossbar a couple of times and hit the post once, so we were getting good shots," Koop said. "We played well, but I made sure to talk to the kids about the importance of coming out hard at the start of the second half just as if the score was 0-0."
The Senators gained some breathing room two minutes into the second half on a Loren Wooldridge goal, assisted by Royal Good. Five minutes later, Ayala scored off an assist from Schenzel to make it 3-0.
Carson extended its lead to 4-0 on a penalty kick by Schenzel after Wooldridge was taken down inside the box. Sam Rojas scored Carson's final goal, assisted by Schenzel.
Schenzel is still learning the ropes at forward, according to Koop.
"This is a new position and he's still getting used to it," Koop said of the senior. "Jeremiah is about 6-3, so he's a big target. We're asking him to win balls in the air, hold the ball at his feet and distribute the ball to the midfielders, and so far he's doing a good job of that."
Kevin Brush was also part of a defensive adjustment, switching from outside to inside on the back line, and he was instrumental in helping Carson control the ball in the air.
"We moved Kevin inside and he did exactly what we asked him to do, and that was to win balls in the air," Koop said. "When we win those balls, that takes a lot of pressure off our defense. Then we can distribute the ball to our center midfielders, Logan Ahl and Loren Wooldridge, and go on the attack."
Brian Arce and Jose Aguilar were also solid in a defensive effort that had a shutout until Reed scored in the final 10 seconds off of a corner kick to the far post.
DOUGLAS 7, NORTH VALLEYS 1
Sophomore Michael Gransbery scored two goals to lead a balanced attack that carried Douglas to the Sierra League victory against North Valleys in Minden.
"This was a great win for us," Douglas co-coach Phil Sheridan said. "It finally all came together. We possessed the ball probably 80 percent of the time and we put it in the back of the net."
Douglas took a 4-0 halftime lead against a team that advanced to the Northern 4A Regional Tournament finals and to the state tournament last year.
Gransbery scored the first goal, assisted by Iani Dunbar. Justin Norvell scored the second, assisted by Chris Aguilar. Martin Rubio scored an unassisted goal and Dunbar made it 4-0, assisted by sweeper Colten Mellows after a run up the middle.
Colten Mellows is a strong, fast skill player who could play up front, but he's such a powerhouse back there," Sheridan said. "And he's still a threat from the sweeper position - he went coast-to-coast and scored our last game."
Gransbery scored in the second half, assisted by Norvell. Center-midfield David Sturgess scored on a follow shot and Justin Grimm put in the final goal for Douglas, assisted by Chase Cohee.
Sheridan also had words of praise for defenders Kyle Currence and Derek Cantley.
Douglas will face a tough test Wednesday at home against defending state champion South Tahoe in a 3:30 p.m. match.
CARSON JV 1, REED 1
Goalie Donovan Sanchez had an outstanding game with 16 saves to help the Carson junior varsity boys soccer team preserve a tie. Reed scored with 11 minutes left to force the tie.
Drew Good scored on an assist from Alex Kaskie for Carson. Andrew Hill and Jason Mather combined for seven steals on defense.
Carson is at home Wednesday for a league match against North Valleys. The varsity plays at 3:30.
DOUGLAS JV 13, NORTH VALLEYS 0
Leo Bravo and Michael Ferranti each scored three goals as the Douglas junior varsity boys soccer team rolled to the win.
Robby Forest and Oscar Gonzalez each scored two goals and Michael Barnes, Kyle Mannschreck and Josh Vega each added a goal. Mannschreck, Ferranti and Barnes all had two assists and Gonzalez, Bill Sunderland and Kyle Gardner each added an assist. Goalies Jose Alcaraz and Cody Hines combined to make seven saves to post the shutout.
