| Brett Davis battles for control against a Delta defensive player in Friday’s loss. Carbon lost 4-0. |
Coach Rex Jepson knew before the season started that the games with the Rabbits would be physical. He was not disappointed and the Rabbits scored three in the first half to down Carbon 4-0.
Despite trying to prepare his team for the contest with a bigger, more physical Delta team, his squad came out and let the play come to them instead of getting in and controlling the play. The game stayed scoreless throughout most of the first half, but it was some gifts from the Carbon team that gave them three points before the half was over.
Jepson was frustrated as the Dinos were able to stop offensive drives by the Rabbits, only to play around and not clear the ball out to their end. As they passed the ball between themselves, Delta stepped in and took the passes as though they were meant for them and put it in the net. “If they had just cleared the ball quickly, we might have had a totally different outcome to this game,” he commented. “We stopped them and then gave it right back to them to score. We beat ourselves.”
Goalie Jake Malone sustained a possibly serious knee injury and had to leave the game. Sophomore Austin Dalton came in and took over at the position. Concerned over the loss and injury to his starting goalie, Jepson was lifted by the performance he got out of his young replacement. “Austin came in cold and he played most of a half of shut out play. His play was phenomenal for what he had to do.”
The last chance to see the soccer team at home will be this week as they entertain powerhouse Juan Diego on Wednesday. They will take on North Sanpete on Friday in their final home game. The Hawks are one game behind Carbon in the standings and will be gunning for a win. Both home games will begin at 3:30 on the soccer field behind Carbon High.