Girls' Soccer: Tigers, Senators settle for tie

When the whistle sounded ending the match, you would have expected the Carson High girls soccer team to be shrieking with joy.

After all, the unbeaten Senators (12-0-1) had clinched the top seed for the 4A regional playoffs by virtue of their 1-1 tie against Douglas on Saturday.

Instead, the girls quietly lined up for the traditional post-game handshake.

"I thought we had to win today," said Brenda Luquin, who scored Carson's only

goal on a second-half penalty kick. "It was supposed to be a win."

It was a hard-earned point as Carson had to come back from a one-goal deficit.

"We played with heart," said Carson coach Randy Roser, whose team hosts South Tahoe on Monday night with an unbeaten season at stake. "The girls wanted to win this one.

"The girls want to go undefeated. They want to win league, zone and state. I thought we dominated in the second half."

Douglas would have loved to made its archrival have to postpone its victory party until next week, but the Tigers' offense couldn't penetrate Carson's tough defense led by Natalie Stevens in the last 35 minutes of the contest.

"I told the girls that we lost the game in the first half," Douglas coach Lorraine Fitzhugh said. "We did not get shots off. I don't think either team dominated the game.

"We were playing as individuals. We're not finding each other (on offense)."

Fitzhugh believes the chemistry issue can be solved. If not, it could lead to a short ride in the playoffs for the Tigers.

Despite having three good looks at the goal in the first half, Carson was unable to score. Ally Cowen's shot in the ninth minute was deflected over the crossbar by Douglas keeper Brianna Randall. Miriah Tompkins had two good opportunities four minutes apart but was unable to convert.

Douglas finally broke through and took a 1-0 lead on C.J. Baumgartner's header that got by Kenzie Tillitt.

Carson finally tied the game in the 68th minute when Luquin was tripped up in the penalty box and converted the ensuing penalty kick, tying the game at 1.

"I know beforehand what I'm going to do," Luquin said. "I try to take a quick glance before the keeper looks at me. I aim for that spot that I picked out. It's not about power, it's about placement."

Roser liked Luquin's aggressiveness on the play.

"When you get into that 18-yard area, you have to go hard at the goal," she said. "You can't take a halfway shot. They either have to give you a shot or take you down. It was a good effort by Brenda."