Soccer: Tiger girls pick up pair of wins

After a pair of wins last week, the Douglas High girls' soccer team can take control of the Sierra League title race if it can get through a pair of tough contests this week.

The Tigers raced to a 6-0 win on a soaked field at Wooster last Tuesday and followed that with an impressive 3-0 win at Manogue on Saturday.

With the wins, Douglas improved to 9-1-1 in Sierra League play, setting up two of the most important games of the season this week. The Tigers host South Tahoe Tuesday night at 7 p.m. and travel to league-leading Carson on Saturday.

Wins in both games would transfer the edge in any tiebreakers to the Tigers, giving them the inside track to the league title.

Against Manogue, Holly Downer got the Tigers on the board with three minutes left in the half on an assist from Tia Lyons. Downer scored again in the 63rd minute on an assist from CJ Baumgartner and Alex Laing capped the scoring with an assist from Lexi Weaver in the 72nd minute.

"For many different reasons, the bench has been very active in the rotation and we have been happy to utilize the depth and talent," Douglas coach Lorraine Fitzhugh said. "We expected a battle and we came prepared.

"Each player met the challenge of handling the aggressive and crowded defense Manogue was sending to the ball. We stayed determined and composed as a team."

Fitzhugh noted the play of keeper Brianna Randall, who posted her second-consecutive shutout and ninth of the season.

Against Wooster, Douglas got contributions from everyone on its roster on its way to the big win in the rain.

"(That kind of outcome) is tough to come by when slipping or managing the ball at a dead stop in a puddle," Fitzhugh said. "The team achieved our goals of connecting passes and improving vision and finishing shots."

Fitzhugh noted the play of the defensive unit consisting of Cora Moody, Downer, Shannon Hubbard, April Hoogendijk and Randall.

"You just have to give a nod to the entire team for the beautiful game they play as a unit," Fitzhugh said.

Douglas got goals from Lyons, Laing, Jessica Vega, Katie Dry, Weaver and Baumgartner.

Assists came from Dry, Lyons and Vega (who had two).