Girls Soccer: Lane shuts down Curie in Public League semifinals

Three days after needing a goal in stoppage time by star junior Jasmin Carrera to escape Farragut, two-time defending city champion Lane scored all its goals in a sharp and aggressive first half in blanking Curie 4-0 in a Public League semifinal Tuesday at Lane Stadium.

Carrera had two goals and two assists to power the Indians, who play Young in a rematch of last year’s final at Gately Stadium Thursday. In qualifying for its fourth consecutive city championship, Lane is attempting to become the first girls program to win three consecutive titles.

“We learned from Saturday (against Farragut) that we can’t take any team for granted and we have to play our game,” Carrera said.

The Indians (16-4-2) generated constant and effective pressure against the Condors. They collected 13 shots in the first half. Their dominance was so complete Curie did not even possess a ball in the final third until 19 minutes into the game.

Carrera collaborated twice with freshman midfielder Anastasia Niforos during a five-minute first half blitz for the Indians’ first two goals. Carrera brilliantly advanced the ball down the right sideline and made perfect crosses that Niforos finished.

Niforos blasted in a short ball and headed in the second Carrera assist. They were her 10th and 11th goals of the year. “They were both really good crosses,” Niforos said. “On Saturday, we kind of got bored in the second half, and it almost cost us the game. Today, we just wanted to get the lead early and never let up.”

As facilitator or scorer, Carrera is equally dangerous. ‘When you pass, it always starts the play but sometimes not everyone can finish, so that’s good when you take the shot yourself, when it’s there,“ she said.

She scored in the 23rd and 37th minute that effectively put the game away. Freshman forward Sofia Pavon smashed a perfect through ball Carrera turned into a breakaway. Carrera has now amassed 35 goals on the year.

Near the end of the first half, Pavon cut through two Curie defenders and crossed to Carrera. Both of Carrera’s goals developed from identical moves, where she dribbles right and fires back left against the keeper’s body.

“The keeper is always trying to figure out what you’re going to do,” she said. “They always look at your feet to try and decide which way you’re going, so what I like to do is fake. That’s all I do is fake and psych them out.”

Curie’s Silvia Montes had the best scoring chance, a one-on-one showdown with Lane keeper Ana Hernandez. Her left-footed blast just skipped the right post for the Condors (10-6-3).

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