It was perhaps only fitting that in a game featuring five yellow cards, the lone goal would come on a penalty kick.
Carson wrapped up the Sierra League title with a 1-0 win over rival Douglas in Minden Wednesday night as Adam Updegrove scored on a penalty kick in the 29th minute to provide the difference.
"It was a good win, completely different than the first time we played them," Carson coach Nate Brigham said. "We got a couple goals the time early on and that kind of took them out of it. Tonight, the one goal was a penalty and that can go either way sometimes. We got lucky with it going our way tonight."
As far as the league title goals, Brigham said the Senators have bigger fish to fry.
"We've won the league championship the last two years," Brigham said. "Both times we came a game short of qualifying for state. We're just looking to keep the momentum going and keep our intensity up."
Intensity was not a problem for either team Wednesday.
A big collision between Douglas' Andrew Andraski and Carson keeper Brandon Briggs in the 19th minute set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Physical play was prevalent on both sides from thereon, resulting first in Updegrove's penalty kick.
Douglas nearly answered on a nice cross from Luke Prinz that sailed just behind the foot of midfielder Ross Gardner in the 38th minute.
Then things got interesting. Carson keeper Brandon Briggs was issued a yellow card after taking down Andraski from behind just before halftime.
He was forced to leave the field, leaving Brigham with a decision.
"Our second-string keeper has been sick the last few days, so we had to put someone from the field in," Brigham said. "In that situation, you go with your biggest guy."
Defender Uriel Duran stepped in and was faced immediately with a direct kick. Douglas' Edgar Arceo put a sharp shot on net to the right side and Duran punched it away. Carson was able to clear and the whistle for halftime blew seconds later.
"Uriel is a basketball player, he can get up there if he has to," Brigham said. "He went in there and made a big time save.
"That's something that could have leveled it at 1-1. A tie in this rivalry in the second half and anything could have happened."
The second half ended up being a game of preservation for the Senators.
"They did a good job of staying very organized, keeping their shape and staying composed," Brigham said. "We've had a lot of 3-0, 4-0 games, you get into the playoffs and you're looking at these 1-0 type of games. This was a playoff type of game. Carson and Douglas is always going to be a good game. Douglas gave us a run for our money tonight."
Douglas ended up putting seven shots on net while Briggs made seven saves. Carson had nine shots and Tiger keeper Ivan Gonzalez had seven saves.
The two defenses, Douglas' Edgar Gonzalez, Brian Randall, Edgar Arceo and Fabian Ramos and Carson's Brian Duran, Uriel Duran and Nik Marsh did an exceptional job of handling the opposing offenses.
