Carson soccer trio headed off to college

Three Carson High soccer players will be continuing their careers on the community college level.

Lindy Lehman and Melissa Glanzmann are headed to Treasure Valley in Oregon, and Alondra Mata is going to Lake Tahoe Community College.

Lehman, the anchor of Carson’s defense last year, will not only play soccer but she will rodeo in the spring.

“I was looking at smaller schools, and basically to to do rodeo,” Lehman said. “I talked to the rodeo coach, and I guess he talked to the soccer coach. I talked to the soccer coach, and he asked me if if I knew any midfielders and I mentioned Melissa. I knew she hadn’t made a final decision.

“There is I think one rodeo in the fall and seven or eight in the spring. I’ll be playing soccer in the fall and do rodeo in the spring. That is the agreement we made.”

Glanzmann said she and Lehman went up to Treasure Valley after the high school season ended, and got some training in. Glanzmann said the two will be rooming together at Treasure Valley.

“It’s small like Carson City, but if you want to go somewhere, Boise is only 45 minutes away,” Glanzmann said. “It was a great campus with nice dorms. My mom liked it (the school), but wished it wasn’t so far away.”

Glanzmann said she was also considering College of Idaho, but it didn’t work out.

Kelly Raddar, Treasure Valley head soccer coach, is delighted to acquire the two Carson graduates.

“These are two players I’m super excited to have in the program,” Raddar said. “I believe each will bring a dimension of play that will both shore up and bolster our level of competitiveness.

“Individually they both bring their own prowess and flair that I hope to harness within a team setting along with the other recruits and returning players to make this a formidable squad that will continue the legacy of our success we’ve had here.”

Lehman figures to play center mid on the back row, the same spot she played at Carson. Glanzmann is expected to battle for playing time in the midfield.

“Lindy will be an integral part of our defense,” Raddar said. “I believe she has the strength, savvy and calming influence experience to be a huge part of our defense. Lindy has the superb ability to play multiple positions on the back line. For the past two years, our program has boasted one of the stingiest defenses in our league, and having Lindy here will guarantee continuance of that legacy.

“Melissa will be part of our midfield core. I believe her technical ability to control and distribute the ball will play well into our system and style of play. We are a possession oriented team, and I have every confidence that Melissa will impact the squad right away. I’m not afraid to involve her more in our offense; to get in on the attack.”

Mata will be playing for Jeremy Evans, a former journalist in northern Nevada.

“I used to play club soccer in South Tahoe,” Mata said in a telephone interview. “My club coach introduced me to Jeremy. I had a couple of other schools interested in me, but my mom wouldn’t let me go, so I’m staying home.”

Mata said she’s most comfortable in the midfield, and that’s where Evans sees her playing next fall.

“Alondra is a player last year’s team was sorely missing, so she has a big role to fill for us,” Evans said. “She is a possession-based midfielder with great vision and plays quickly. She always makes the right decisions and does it at a fast pace, and seed of play is critical at the college level.

“She commits to maintaining possession and oftentimes that means playing the first option. She plays so simple I often think she doesn’t get the credit she deserves because she makes the game look easy.”

Mata said she saw one game last year, and would have gone to more if Lake Tahoe’s game didn’t conflict with her Carson schedule. She likes what she saw of the program, and hopes she’s going to be able to contribute.

“Hopefully I’ll get a chance to play right away,” Mata said.

“I foresee Alondra playing a lot of minutes next year because I need a center mid who can maintain possession and link the back third with the front third,” Evans said. “I couldn’t be more ecstatic that she is coming to Lake Tahoe.”