Carson blanks Damonte in physical struggle

Put Damonte Ranch and Carson on the same soccer field, and you will get one physical game.

That was the case again Tuesday night, but the Senators scored a couple of finesse goals and added one on a penalty kick in the second half to blank the Mustangs, 3-0, in a Sierra League match.

"I thought the girls played great," Carson coach Greg Lehman said. "I thought Damonte was organized and came ready to play, and they played us tough. It forced us to be more disciplined and patient.

"They had a couple of early chances, but Emmy (Heller) came out and did a good job in getting her hands on the ball."

Neither team threatened until the 11th minute when Karla Reyes spotted a wide-open Kenzie Tillitt, who chipped a shot over the head of Damonte goalie Darby Menghini.

"I just saw Kenzie running and put the ball through to her," said Reyes.

Damonte threatened approximately four minutes later when Hanna Metcalfe was bearing down on Heller, who made a sliding save and deflected the ball away.

Carson counter-attacked after the sliding save, and Tillitt crossed the ball to Reyes, who finished the play with a spectacular header in the 16th minute to make it 2-0. It was a textbook play.

"I did that last year against Wooster," Reyes said.

"That header was a nice goal." Lehman said.

In the 28th minute, Heather Metcalfe was stopped at point-blank range by Heller, who again had to leave her feet. The ball came back out, but Kendyll Etchegoyhen was unable to get off a shot.

The remainder of the half was uneventful, as Tillitt had two more looks but was unable to capitalize. A free kick sailed through the football uprights and she was high and wide on another attempt.

Carson made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute when Jaime Perez was dragged down in the penalty box, and then converted the ensuing penalty kick.

The Senators had a goal wiped out on a controversial offsides call. Damonte threatened a couple of different times to get on the board, but to no avail. The most serious threat came in the 77th minute, but Heller made another diving stop.

Carson plays at Wooster on Saturday in a girls-boys doubleheader starting at 11.

• In JV action, Carson improved to 5-0 with a 2-1 victory over the Mustangs.

Damonte got on the board first, but Carson's Julia Torres scored late in the first half to tie the game at 1.

Nahim Gutierrez snapped the tie with her goal in the 60th minute.

Melissa Glanzmann and Arlette Mariscal were praised for their play in the field by coach Kelsey Bushman.