Eye on the prize: CHS opens playoffs with win

Brynn Lehman picked a great time to score her first goal of the season.

Lehman scored off an assist from Sophia Ruedy in the 46th minute to snap a scoreless tie and propel Carson High to a 3-0 win over McQueen in a first-round game in the NIAA Division I regional playoffs Wednesday night at the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex.

Carson moves on to a semifinal match-up on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Douglas, a 4-0 winner over Reed, at North Valleys High School. The teams split the two regular-season match-ups.

In other first-round match-ups, Bishop Manogue (17-3-2) slipped past Reno 1-0 in double overtime and Spanish Springs registered a 3-1 win over Galena.

The Cougars meet Manogue Saturday at noon, also at North Valleys.

Carson dominated the game, outshooting McQueen, 18-1. The Lancers’ only shot on goal came in the 33rd minute when Kendra McAninch missed a wide-open net. Other than that, Carson controlled the game.

The first 40 minutes were probably the most frustrating of the season for the Senators, who peppered McQueen keeper Isabel Warren with a plethora of shots. Warren only had to make two saves in the first half, because Carson kept shooting wide.

“We had the opportunities,” Carson coach Greg Lehman said. “I told the girls at halftime to stay patient, and if they kept creating opportunities they would score. I would have liked to have seen us score in the first half because of our quality opportunities.”

Nahim Gutierrez had a free kick that was saved and Mallory Otto’s shot in the 30th minute was deflected by Warren.

The second half was a different story, as Carson scored on three of its 11 shots.

Brynn Lehman’s goal came six minutes into the second half. She admitted she didn’t know who got her the ball.

“Somebody told me it was Sophia,” Lehman said. “Sophia did a good job (getting the ball there).”

Nobody was happier to see her finally score more than her dad, Greg.

“Brynn always goes 110 percent,” coach Lehman said. “When she is in there, she always brings a lot of energy.”

Twelve minutes and four shots later, the Senators took a 2-0 lead. Ruedy got control of a loose ball and put it in from about 10 yards away.

Mallory Otto completed the scoring in the 78th minute with a goal off a Ruedy assist. Ruedy had a hand in all three of Carson’s scores.

Coach Lehman praised the work of his back line of Lindy Lehman, Andrea Maffei, Gutierrez and Melissa Glanzmann.

“I thought they did a real nice job,” coach Lehman said.

Before the Reed-Douglas outcome was known, Lindy Lehman said she eagerly awaits the game against DHS.

“I’d rather play Douglas,” she said. “They are one of the best teams (in the North), and to be the best you have to beat the best. I think it helps that we just played them. They know what we’re going to do, and we know their tendencies.”

Lindy Lehman said containing McKenna Kynett is critical.

“She is very fast,” Lehman said. “We have to play tough against her.”