Junior Lauren Hudak drives downfield against Manogue Saturday at the Jim Frank Track and Field Complex.
Carson High kept its hold on first place in the Sierra League with a tough 2-0 win over Bishop Manogue Saturday morning at the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex.
Carson improved to 12-3, and the Senators now lead Manogue by four points with just one match left in the regular season.
The victory, which avenged a 2-1 loss in the first half of the season, clinched a homefield berth for the Senators, who can finish no worse than second.
If Douglas won on Saturday, the Tuesday clash at 3:30 between the rivals would decide the championship.
“It’s really nice to be here at home and have the crowd,” said Carson coach Greg Lehman, whose squad has posted a 7-1 record on its home field. The only loss was a 2-1 setback to Douglas on Oct. 10.
The teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half, though the Senators had the better offense over the first 40 minutes. Carson had a 5-3 edge in shots.
Manogue almost scored in the first three minutes off a corner kick, but Carson was able to clear the ball away from its own goal area.
Carson’s Julie Torres had a couple of good chances, but was unable to convert. Lauren Hudak had a good run, but she couldn’t get much on her shot.
““I thought we created some good opportunities,” Lehman said. “We had a couple of good looks. Instead of panicking, the girls stayed with it.”
The advantage in shots didn’t seem to faze Manogue coach Shelly Avansino.
“They are more of a long ball team and we like to build (from the back),” she said. “We struggled with balls in the air.”
The game was scoreles until the 54th minute when Hudak corraled a loose ball and poked it past La-Torae Nixon.
“I was just there,” said Hudak. “It was just lucky.”
The Senators scored an insurance goal after Manogue turned the ball over on its side of the field. Hudak sent a through ball to Molly Otto who scored in the 67th minute.
“I just saw Molly on the run,” Hudak said.
Neither team threatened in the last 13 minutes of the contest.
“Both goals were a result of miscommunication by our defense,” Avansino said “We didn’t play very well defensively.”
“We had a couple of opportunities on balls in front of the net, and a couple went our way,” said Lehman, who was impressed with the play of Megan Sando and Molly and Mallory Otto among others.
So, it sets up the traditional end-of-the-year meeting with the rival Tigers. The rivals have dominated the girls soccer scene in recent years.
“I think everybody is really excited,” Hudak said.
