Carson wins second straight game, 3-0 over North Valleys

After playing three games and not winning a single one, Carson High won its second-straight on Saturday with a 3-0 win over North Valleys. The Senators also beat Hug 8-0 on Wednesday.

Now Mike Popp and his players aren't exactly bragging about two wins over teams likely to not make the Northern 4A playoffs. But after how the season started, this can be considered progress.

"We're slowly coming together," Popp said. "The chemistry is starting to get there. It's like I told the girls earlier, all we need to work on in the beginning of the season is our skills. I don't want to peak now. I want to peak at the end of the season. Hopefully by midway through the season, we'll almost be there."

The Senators used first half goals by Kristen Hale and Chrissy Katzorke to open up a 2-0 halftime lead against the Panthers, who fell to 2-3 overall and 1-3 in the Sierra League. Midway through the second half, Kasey Cano chased down a through ball, poked it around the keeper and tucked it away for the a 3-0 lead. In the beginning of the second half, Cano nearly scored again off a pass from Katelyn Bessette, but barely missed.

"I'll tell you what, for the next three years Cano is going to be a tough competitor," Popp said.

Maybe for the next few more weeks, Carson will also be.

The Senators started the season with a tie against McQueen, then suffered their worst losses ever, a 3-0 decision to Reno and a 4-0 pounding by rival Douglas. Senior Carolina Hernandez, a defensive starter on last year's Northern 4A Championship team, definitely wasn't pleased with how the season started. Defenders always take goals bad, though.

"We have a really young team but we are a good team," Hernandez said. "It's coming together. It was everybody's best game today. We got to capitalize on these games that aren't as big of challenges, so we know how to play when we play the big games again. Hopefully we'll give Douglas a better game next time."

Carson (2-2-1 overall, 2-2 league) will look for three in a row on Tuesday against struggling Wooster before playing Spanish Springs in a non-league game next Saturday.