Jasmin Carrera’s hat trick leads Lane past Young

Returning to the scene of a heartbreaking loss, Lane exacted its own brand of swift revenge. “It’s a new team and a new season but Whitney Young is our biggest rival, and we always want to go hard at them,” Lane senior star forward Jasmin Carrera said.

Carrera scored three goals as the Indians started a first-half outburst with two goals 27 seconds apart that carried Lane to the 6-1 victory over Young in a showdown of the Public League’s top two programs at Gately Stadium Friday night.

Last May, Young scored a miraculous goal with seconds remaining in regulation before beating the Indians in overtime in the championship of the Public League tournament to deny the favored Indians their third consecutive city title.

“I think they did have some revenge on their mind, and they played very well tonight,” Young coach Spero Mandakas said.

Lane broke out to a stunning 5-0 lead at the break. Sophomore forward Natalie Wade scored two goals in support of Carrera. Wade initiated the onslaught when she broke free on the right wing and drilled a ball from about 14 yards inside the far post for the Indians’ first goal.

“I just saw the opening, and I wanted to score very badly there, to give us the momentum and also the motivation to get more goals, because I knew this game was very important,” Wade said.

Just moments later, Carrera found herself free on the left wing and blasted a ball that curled inside the left corner. Carrera scored 42 goals last year and added 12 assists.

Naturally, teams are designing their defenses to slow her down. “I noticed sometimes today, when I was out there, they were not guarding me so much as the spots I was running to, so I was able to find some open spaces,” she said.

“It’s been frustration at times this year because I haven’t had some of the same opportunities as last year, but it’s all about winning, and as long as we win, I’m fine with that,” she said. The three goals constituted a season-high. Her career-best is five goals in a game.

Carrera and Wade added a second goal apiece in the first half. Sophomore star midfielder Sofia Pavon also scored in the first half for the Indians (9-4, 4-0). Wade and Pavon now have 10 goals on the year. Carrera’s total extended her season mark to 13 goals.

“Teams mark Jasmin so much, and it leaves a lot of space out there, so I just wanted to step up for the team,” Wade said. Carrera punched in her third goal in the second half.

Junior forward Elena Caminer averted the shutout when she scored in the 70th minute for the Dolphins (8-5, 3-1), who played without top scorer and captain Azia Javier, who did not dress after injuring her ankle earlier in the week.

“That’s no excuse,” Mandakas said. “They really came out and took it to us. If we have the opportunity to play them again, we have to do a much better job defensively of their game up top.”