Bulldogs chase soccer’s prize one more time

Nick Christensen

Friday, Nov. 12, 2004 | 9:48 a.m.

Last year, the Centennial boys' soccer team was the team to beat in the 4A South, going 8-1 in league play and steamrolling into the state tournament at Carson City.

But that Centennial machine ran into a South Tahoe roadblock in the state championship, and the Bulldogs lost 2-0 as the Vikings took the state crown. Even though the four Lake Tahoe area schools have combined for 11 state boys' soccer championships since 1995, the win was the first 4A title for that area.

Before this season started, Centennial coach Rick Kazee did not think his team was as talented as last year's -- this year's Bulldogs didn't have the offense that last year's team was capable of.

"I really thought this was going to be a year when we would be down a little bit, because we lost so much talent over the last couple of years," Kazee said. "I was talking about it to my assistant coach, and there was something John Wooden said a long time ago -- 'Don't worry about what you can't do, just do what you do well.' I don't make too many demands, I just asked them to get really good at what they're capable of doing."

Heading into last week's Sunset Region championship game against high-scoring Bonanza, it was looking like any chance Centennial would have at making it to the state championship would involve it winning in Tuesday's play-in game for the Southern regional losers. With three players getting red-carded in the Sunrise semifinal and playing without goaltender Jade Alfasi, Centennial didn't look to have much of a chance.

But Centennial was able to pull the upset. The Bulldogs beat favorite Bonanza 2-0 on Saturday to advance to today's state semifinals. Freshman Chey McDonald took Alfasi's place in goal for last weekend's shutout,and the red cards were "soft-reds" that didn't come with a one-game suspension.

"The really good thing about Saturday's game, besides beating Bonanza, was that we played with our mouths shut," Kazee said. "They just played their game and it was just beautiful to watch them do what they do."

Now, the Bulldogs will face Northern champion Carson at 12:30 p.m. today at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex in Las Vegas. Kazee said he's been scouting the Senators as best he could via the Internet.

"I've pulled off every article I could get out of the Nevada Appeal and the Douglas paper, so I know what they write about them -- fortunately for small towns they write a lot," Kazee said. "I know what they do on the back line, the paper's talked about a couple things they do on throw-ins. We've faced the situation a lot in the last few years of playing teams you don't know, and you just have to emphasize what you do well and force other teams to defend you.

"It sounds to me like they're a typical Northern team in any sport -- a big, strong team that'll knock you on your (rear) if they don't think you'll play with them."

Bonanza, which beat Sunrise runner-up Green Valley 4-0 in Tuesday's play-in game, was scheduled to face Sunrise champion Silverado this morning. The Skyhawks mirror Bonanza's style, a high-scoring team with one key weapon and strong goaltending.

Silverado coach John Cwik said he expects his semifinal game to come down to execution.

"I would say who makes the first mistake, because I think they obviously have shown they can score on teams, and we've shown we can score on teams," Cwik said. "It's a matter of which offense actually clicks first is going to be the main thing there, you've got to figure there's going to be some nerves -- it's just who's going to settle down and start dictating play."

The winners of today's semifinals advance to the 4A championship game, at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bettye Wilson.

Girls' volleyball

Two Southern Nevada teams will play semifinal matches at the state girls' volleyball tournament at Galena High School, south of Reno.

Sunrise champion Silverado, which went undefeated this season, will face Northern champion Galena at 6:45 p.m. At 8:15 p.m., Sunset winner Palo Verde will play North runner-up Douglas.

The state championship match will be at Galena at 4 p.m. Saturday.