Senator boys soccer looking playoff ready

Carson High boys soccer posted its third shutout in a row Monday night in a 1-0 win over Wooster.

The Senators needed a push this week in order to have a shot at a home playoff game, which would be the programs first since 2019.

Coincidentally, its also the last time the Carson High boys soccer team was in the playoffs.

After shutting out Douglas, the Senators took advantage of home field, winning late against Damonte Ranch last Wednesday.

Monday night’s shutout victory put the Senators in control of their own destiny.

A win over Bishop Manogue Wednesday night in Carson means the Senators will at worst be the No. 2 seed coming out of the Sierra League, locking up a home playoff game.

Shutting out the Colts

Monday night, the Senators needed another win to keep the Colts from potentially jumping them in the standings.

The biggest play of the night came from junior keeper Joshua Lopez in stoppage time to protect the Senators’ 1-0 lead.

Wooster played a ball into the box and the Colts were able to head it toward net, but Lopez wasn’t about to let his third consecutive clean sheet slip away.

“I saw the way he headed the ball, anticipated and got the save,” said Lopez. “I just didn’t want it in my net.”

It resulted in the last true scoring chance for the Colts.

Lopez made another diving save in the 50^th minute to keep a Wooster free kick chance out of the goal.

Carson was able to play with that 1-0 lead after controlling a majority of the opening 20 minutes.

In the 25^th minute, Carson broke through on a couple of perfect passes.

Junior midfielder Kael Walt found fellow junior Johan Lizarraga up the home sideline.

Lizarraga turned up toward the box and fired a cross in front of net.

Waiting in the ideal spot was Juan ‘Nathan’ Alegria Gutierrez who struck it straight into the netting.

“It was a great pass and I just went in to finish it,” said Gutierrez. “(This win) felt good because we lost last time. We took it back and at our home, too.”

In back-to-back games, Carson has avenged losses in their first meetings to both Damonte Ranch and Wooster.

With one game remaining, the Senators are feeling like they’re trending in the right direction ahead of the postseason.

“(We’re playing) Really good, we are working hard and trying to get to the top right now,” Gutierrez said.

“We have three cleans sheets and we are playing really good lately,” said Lopez. “I think all we have to do is beat Manogue and keep training.”

If you take out the noise, the Senators path is simple.

A win over Bishop Manogue Wednesday means a home playoff game Monday, October 30 for the quarter final round of the Class 5A North regional tournament.